A newly opened Chabad House in the coastal town of Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka, became the target of violent attacks and antisemitic harassment over Shabbos. The shluchim and a group of Israeli tourists staying at the Chabad House found themselves trapped inside as the situation outside became increasingly dangerous, with police ultimately forced to intervene.

The Chabad House in Hiriketiya, opened just two weeks ago by Rabbi Yossi Gabai, has quickly become a destination for Israeli and Jewish travelers visiting Sri Lanka.

As word spread of the opening, the location began being targeted by individuals with an agenda, who spread false rumors about the Chabad House and launched an organized campaign of incitement and hostility, including a wave of inflammatory posts and antisemitic comments on local social media.

They also organized groups of protesters who were brought to the area in tuk-tuks, using loudspeakers to threaten Israelis and local employees.

“Most Sri Lankans are not against Israelis,” Rabbi Gabai told Israeli media. “But unfortunately, there are quite a few who are looking for us.”

On Friday night, as hundreds of Israelis and Jewish travelers gathered at the Chabad House for the Friday night meal, the situation escalated. A large group of local protesters gathered outside the Chabad House and began intimidating people trying to enter.

“At first, they tried to frighten people who came and began threatening them,” Rabbi Gabai recounted. “Some people turned around and did not want to enter. But then they saw that we were not giving in and were not afraid, and they began throwing firecrackers into the compound and stones that shattered the windows.”

No one was injured, but Rabbi Gabai described the incident as extremely frightening. With people inside the building and stones being thrown through its windows, the situation posed a serious danger to everyone present.

The police were called and dispersed the protesters. However, on Motzaei Shabbos, the group returned in even larger numbers, again threatening people and throwing objects toward the building. The protesters also continued using loudspeakers to incite against the Chabad House.

Rabbi Gabai said that the circumstances indicate that the protests are organized and funded, and suggested that the incident may be connected to internal political tensions in Sri Lanka.

At the same time, he noted that the current Sri Lankan government is strongly supportive of Israel and that the two countries maintain close ties.

“The key here is intervention on the governmental level,” Rabbi Gabai said. “We are pleading for a senior Israeli official to urgently contact his counterpart in the government and security forces in Sri Lanka, so that the local police will be instructed to provide permanent security at the Chabad House, arrest those financing and inciting the protests, and calm the situation before this ends in tragedy.”

Following the incidents, Israeli MK Avi Maoz appealed to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, calling for immediate intervention with the Sri Lankan authorities.

Maoz warned that the situation could deteriorate and urged Israel’s Foreign Ministry to act before anyone is harmed. In his letter, he stressed the critical role the Rebbe’s shluchim play for Jewish travelers around the world, particularly in countries where there is no permanent Israeli presence.

“Chabad shluchim assist Israelis in practice and serve as a central address for them,” Maoz wrote, calling on the Israeli government to do everything possible to protect the shluchim and ensure that they can continue their work safely.