Responding to the escalating violence in Israel and Palestine, Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs ministry has provided a muted response, calling for a ceasefire and reaffirming the country’s support for a "two-state solution".

The statement follows the eruption of violence in the region, which has claimed the lives of an estimated 600 Israelis and 370 Palestinians so far.

^{Mahinda Rajapaksa receives the Star of Palestine.}

Whilst Sri Lankan leaders have previously claimed to recognise Palestinians’ “legitimate right to statehood”; the government has also met with Israeli officials to discuss greater bilateral cooperation and securing support for Sri Lanka’s military.

Accused war criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa previously received the Star of Palestine award and has a road named in Ramallah after himself. Meanwhile, Israeli military support for the Sri Lankan government, including through Kfir fighter jets, was crucial throughout its bombing campaigns of the North-East.

^{Israeli official with accused Sri Lankan war criminal Shavendra Silva.}

Sri Lanka’s statement in response to the violence does not take a side but calls for an “immediate halt to violence” and claims:

“Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting a negotiated settlement in line with internationally agreed parameters of two states living side by side on the basis of the 1967 borders”.

Read the Sri Lanka Foreign Affair’s Ministry’s full statement here.