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How One Sri Lankan Wants to Change the Narrative About Israel
Shanuka Elangasekara. Photo: screenshot.
The country has 22 million people. The majority are Buddhist, with Hindu, Christian, and Muslim minorities. Her team works tirelessly across the nation, to muster support across cultures for the Jewish State, which she hopes will eventually “change diplomatic policy and forge an alliance with Israel.”
Elangasekara’s passion for Israel began back in 2000, when she was a law student, but it became full-time when she began the Israel Sri Lanka Solitary Movement in 2019. Since then, it has garnered a lot of attention at the local level. She explained that many among Sri Lanka’s Buddhist majority are pro-Israel.
Elangasekara notably held a gathering on the 75th anniversary of Israeli independence, and another one after the October 7th massacre, where participants planted 1,200 trees to symbolize the lives lost.
“My goal is to reach the grassroots in Sri Lanka,” she said. “We have to change the distorted biased negative narrative the world upholds. There needs to be a gathering of nations around Israel and for Israel.”
Indigenous Vedda chiefs have attended her events, as have others in Sri Lanka.
“Sri Lanka and the Jewish world have had ties for many millennia” She said. “I can’t explain why our people and my staff have such a faithful passion for Israel, through several decades.”
Although Sri Lanka’s last Jew is believed to have died in 2016, there has been a historic Jewish presence there, according to sources, and it is believed that they all assimilated over time.
One of her team members, Krishantha Rathnaweera, said that his unexplainable love for Israel “just manifested when he was 12,” and he has been very supportive since.
Also notable in her work is hosting students and trying to use education to build an appreciation for Israel in the next generation.
There has been pressure on Sri Lanka to shut down Israeli embassies due to protests from pro-Palestinian agitators. Everyone in her group opposed the move, however. “Our histories are intertwined and there is much potential we can reach together,” she argued.
“When non-Jews spread the truth about Israel, it might be impactful” she suggested. She lamented that the lack of support and collaboration from Israelis has been discouraging to her team, as they have done a lot of dedicated work to improve the bonds. They hope this will change eventually.
She cited sectors that could improve if the nations had better bilateral ties, such as agriculture, archaeology, healthcare, and education. She also said that ongoing defense collaboration for the security of Israelis in Asia could be improved. There was recently a major threat against Israelis in the country.
Her team invites Israeli tourists to come visit her office to see what they’re doing firsthand to improve the relationship. Elangasekara feels that they can create a strong support base among the “Buddhist belt in Asia” and beyond.
The post How One Sri Lankan Wants to Change the Narrative About Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Israel Pounds Gaza City Suburbs, Vows to Press on with Offensive
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike, in Gaza City, August 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Israeli planes and tanks pounded the eastern and northern outskirts of Gaza City overnight Saturday to Sunday, destroying buildings and homes, residents said, as Israeli leaders vowed to press on with a planned offensive on the city.
Witnesses reported the sound of explosions non-stop overnight in the areas of Zeitoun and Shejaia, while tanks shelled houses and roads in the nearby Sabra neighborhood and several buildings were blown up in the northern town of Jabalia.
Fire lit the skies from the direction of the explosions, causing panic, prompting some families to stream out of the city. Others said they would prefer to die and not leave.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that its forces have returned to combat in the Jabalia area in recent days, to dismantle militant tunnels and strengthen control of the area.
It added that the operation there “enables the expansion of combat into additional areas and prevents Hamas terrorists from returning to operate in these areas.”
Israel approved a plan this month to seize control of Gaza City, describing it as the last bastion of Hamas. It is not expected to begin for a few weeks, leaving room for mediators Egypt and Qatar to try and resume ceasefire talks.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday vowed to press on with the offensive on the city where famine has been declared, which has raised alarm abroad and objections at home. Katz has said that Gaza City will be razed unless Hamas agrees to end the war on Israel’s terms and release all hostages.
Hamas said in a statement on Sunday that Israel’s plan to take over Gaza City showed it wasn’t serious about a ceasefire.
It said a ceasefire agreement was “the only way to return the hostages,” holding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for their lives.
The proposal on the table calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages held in Gaza and of 18 bodies. In turn, Israel would release about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Once a temporary ceasefire begins, the proposal is for Hamas and Israel to begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire that would include the return of the remaining hostages.
On Thursday, Netanyahu said that Israel would immediately resume negotiations for the release of all 50 hostages – of whom Israel believes around 20 are still living – and an end to the nearly two-year-old war but on terms acceptable to Israel.
‘HUNGRY AND AFRAID’
Around half of the enclave’s two million people currently live in Gaza City. A few thousand have already left, carrying their belongings on vehicles and rickshaws.
“I stopped counting the times I had to take my wife and three daughters and leave my home in Gaza City,” said Mohammad, 40, via a chat app. “No place is safe, but I can’t take the risk. If they suddenly begin the invasion, they will use heavy fire.”
Others said they will not leave, no matter what.
“We are not leaving, let them bomb us at home,” said Aya, 31, who has a family of eight, adding that they couldn’t afford to buy a tent or pay for the transportation, even if they did try to leave. “We are hungry, afraid and don’t have money.”
A global hunger monitor said on Friday that Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine that will likely spread. Israel has rejected the assessment and says it ignores steps it has taken since late July to increase aid.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen burst into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
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Iran Signals Willingness to Scale Back Uranium Enrichment to Ease Tensions
Atomic symbol and USA and Iranian flags are seen in this illustration taken, September 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
i24 News – Iran may be prepared to significantly reduce its uranium enrichment levels in a bid to stave off renewed UN sanctions and limit the risk of further strikes by Israel and the United States, according to a report published Sunday in The Telegraph.
Citing Iranian sources, the paper said Tehran is considering lowering enrichment from 60% to 20%.
The move is reportedly being championed by Ali Larijani, the newly appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, who is holding talks with regime leaders.
“Larijani is trying to convince the system to reduce the level of enrichment in order to avoid further war,” a senior Iranian official told the paper.
The proposal, however, faces stiff resistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has long opposed concessions on the nuclear program. Still, the report suggests Iran’s leadership may be open to greater flexibility, including the possibility of reviving engagement with Western powers.
Last month, i24NEWS reported exclusively that a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to travel to Iran. The team of technical experts would seek to resume monitoring of nuclear sites, inspections that have been heavily restricted in recent years.
The development comes amid mounting regional tensions and could represent a critical turning point in the long-running nuclear standoff.
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Major Brush Fire Erupts Near Jerusalem, Evacuations Underway
A view of the new Tel Aviv-Jerusalem fast train seen over the HaArazim Valley (“Valley of Cedars”) just outside of Jerusalem, Sept. 25, 2018. Photo: Yossi Zamir/Flash90.
i24 News – A large brush fire broke out Sunday in the Cedars Valley area, near Route 1 and the Motza interchange, prompting an emergency response from Jerusalem district fire services. Several water-bombing planes were dispatched, and authorities have declared a “fire emergency.”
As a precaution, residents of Mevaseret Zion are being evacuated. Access to the town from Route 1 has already been blocked, and officials are weighing a full closure of the major highway.
Fire crews from the Ha’uma station are on site working to contain the flames, while motorists in the area are urged to heed traffic updates and follow instructions from emergency services.
Eight firefighting aircraft are currently operating above the blaze in support of ground teams. The fire comes amid one of the hottest, driest summers on record, with conditions fueling a series of destructive wildfires across the country.
Officials warn the situation remains critical, as the blaze threatens a vital transportation corridor leading into Jerusalem.