At the end of last week, he Sri Lanka government announced that it was
resuming diplomatic ties with Israel 30 years after they were broken off.
Minister of Foreign Affairs David Levy welcomed the move, saying that a
high-level official Sri Lankan delegation was due in Israel soon to discuss
the improvement of relations.
Sources close to the Sri Lankan government estimated at the end of last
week that the resumption of diplomatic relations is intended to allow Sri
Lanka to expand its acquisition of weapons systems from Israel. Government
forces in Sri Lanka suffered setbacks in fighting against Tamil rebels in
recent weeks, and the Sri Lankan army’s weapons and ammunition supplies have
depleted.
Diplomatic ties between Israel and Sri Lanka were broken off in 1970,
following pressure by Arab countries on the Colombo government. According to
foreign media reports last week, the Sri Lanka government recently invited
Israeli security industries officials to Colombo with a view to urgently
purchasing weapons systems, especially heavy ammunition. The Sri Lanka
government has approved a $708 million budget for military replenishment.
According to an official announcement put out in Colombo, Israel recently
supplied Sri Lanka with coast guard boats for $20 million from Israel Navy
surpluses.
According to foreign press reports, Sri Lanka bought seven Kfir C-7
fighter aircraft worth $30 million from Israel Air Force surplus, having
already bought five planes.
Israel Military Industries general manager said in response that “There
are no deals with the Sri Lanka government at present”.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 7 May, 2000