Declassified Israeli Files Detail Financial Request and Deep Security Ties with Sri Lanka in the 1980s
Partially declassified documents from Israel’s Foreign Ministry indicate that former Sri Lankan President Junius Richard Jayewardene sought financial assistance from Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, to support his 1987 election campaign.
According to diplomatic cables dated August 6 and August 14, 1987, the request for US$1 million was made during a meeting between Jayewardene and a Mossad representative. The approach reportedly occurred at a sensitive moment, when the Sri Lankan government was facing growing pressure from Arab states as well as domestic opposition to close the Israeli Interests Section operating in Colombo.
There was no general election in the country in 1987 and it is not clear for which election campaign this money was requested. Provincial Council elections were held in 1988.
The disclosures were highlighted in an investigative report by The Wire, based on documents released from the Israel State Archives that shed light on relations between Sri Lanka and Israel during the mid‑1980s.
Sri Lanka had formally cut diplomatic relations with Israel in 1970, largely in response to pressure from Arab nations. Limited engagement resumed in 1984 with the establishment of an Israeli Interests Section housed within the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, against the backdrop of an intensifying civil war. Archival records suggest that Colombo sought Israeli assistance primarily to counter Tamil militancy.
By the late 1980s, Israel had supplied Sri Lanka with military equipment valued at approximately US$30 million. The transfers reportedly included Dvora‑class fast patrol boats, Mini‑Uzi submachine guns, electronic fencing systems, communications equipment, and ammunition. Israeli personnel were also involved in training Sri Lankan military units and members of the President’s security detail.
The cables further indicate that Israeli instructors—at times publicly described as agricultural advisers—played a role in training operations, particularly in the northern regions of the country. Israeli officials believed such assistance could strengthen Sri Lankan forces and support offensive operations in areas such as Jaffna.
Israeli support also extended to the Special Task Force (STF), an elite police unit that later became the subject of serious allegations of human rights abuses. Despite warnings from U.S. officials about the potential long‑term consequences of backing the STF, Israeli involvement reportedly continued. This included training a newly formed VIP protection unit following an assassination attempt on President Jayewardene in 1987.
While the documents confirm that Jayewardene requested campaign funding, the released files do not provide evidence that Israel ultimately granted the US$1 million. Nonetheless, Israeli officials acknowledged their strategic interest in his remaining in power, noting that a victory by the opposition could have resulted in the expulsion of Israeli representatives from Sri Lanka.
The records also reflect unease among Israeli diplomats over Sri Lanka’s worsening human rights situation during the civil war, including reports of civilian casualties, enforced disappearances, and allegations of torture. Despite these concerns, Israel continued its military and intelligence cooperation, viewing it as vital to preserving bilateral ties.
Taken together, the documents offer rare insight into the depth of Sri Lanka–Israel cooperation during a highly volatile period in the island’s history, highlighting how strategic, security, and geopolitical considerations shaped the relationship.