Sri Lanka’s Last Holocaust Survivor Finds Peace in Coastal Town

Dr. Hans Vischjager, an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor of Dutch Sephardic descent, lives peacefully in Negombo, Sri Lanka. Born in 1942 in Nazi-occupied Holland, he was hidden with a Christian family by the Dutch resistance. After the war, Vischjager was taken back by his mother, who had survived Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. The reunion was challenging; his mother bore deep scars from the Holocaust, and the trauma complicated their relationship for years.

In 1956, Vischjager’s family fled to the U.S. amidst fears from the Hungarian Revolution. He struggled with cultural differences and ran away frequently, ultimately sent to a juvenile hall. Later, he served in the U.S. Army and moved to Israel, where he met his future wife, Bernadette Gunawardane. After marrying and settling in the U.K., he pursued a career in psychotherapy, motivated by her encouragement.

In 1999, they moved to Sri Lanka, where Vischjager wrote a book on psychotherapy, attracting the attention of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who helped him secure a work visa. Vischjager eventually reconciled with his mother and maintained a close connection with his foster family.

Today, he appreciates the tranquility of Negombo, where local children affectionately call him “sudu siya” or “white grandpa.” Despite his many travels and multicultural influences, Vischjager remains rooted in his Jewish identity.