ARUGAM BAY (Dispatches) – The sun hung low over the Indian Ocean, casting an amber glow on the waves as a heated argument erupted in Arugam Bay, a popular beach in eastern Sri Lanka.
In the water, a group of local surfers were engaged in a dispute with Zionist tourists from the occupied territories that kicked off over surf etiquette – or rather, from the perspective of the Sri Lankans, a lack of it.
Jeevan Hall, an internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan surfer, was in the lineup of the surf when he encountered an Israeli tourist repeatedly taking waves without leaving any for others. Frustrated, Hall approached the tourist – an off-duty soldier of the Zionist regime’s army – and asked him to respect the surfing code of conduct and share the waves.
What started as an innocuous request quickly escalated into a tiff. Two of the soldier’s friends, also Zionist regime troops on a break, joined in. The three started paddling around him in the water, hurling insults in Hebrew.
Other surfers rushed to support Hall, only to be met with accusations from the Israelis: “You only have issues with us because of the war.”
Hall knew the soldiers were referring to the Zionist regime’s genocidal campaign on Gaza. 
“This is a very common thing that happens in Arugam Bay,” Hall later told Al Jazeera.
But there is a reason why the Zionist troops referred to the war that is on a tenuous pause for the moment because of a ceasefire. In Sri Lanka, as in many other parts of the world, they are not welcome.
For decades, Sri Lanka has been a haven for international tourists seeking its pristine beaches, world-class surf, and a slice of tropical paradise – all at a relatively lesser cost than similar sites in other parts of the world.
Among the visitors, young Israeli tourists have carved out a notable presence, particularly the reservists – Israelis who have come out of the regime’s compulsory military service.
In 2022, 9,000 Israeli nationals entered Sri Lanka, with the figure increasing by 1,000 the next year, according to local authorities.
In 2024, however, as Israel’s military campaign in Gaza turned into a genocide, the number of Israeli visitors to Sri Lanka doubled with an estimated 20,000 entering the South Asian island.
Cracks in the dynamic are now visible now.
Several coastal tourist destinations – including Indonesia in 2018 and the Maldives in 2024 – banned Israeli passport holders from entering their countries. In December, Australia denied the entry of two Zionist troops who had served in Gaza.
In Sri Lanka, some believe that following suit would lead to an influx of “more ethically-minded” tourists who are otherwise hesitant to visit due to the dominance of Israeli reservists on the island’s beaches.