US and Israel Issue Warnings of Potential Attack on Tourist Locations in Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay

On Wednesday, the United States and Israel issued security advisories warning of a potential threat to tourist destinations in the Arugam Bay area of Sri Lanka. The US Embassy in Colombo stated that it had received “credible information warning of an attack targeting popular tourist locations” in eastern Arugam Bay, prompting a travel ban on its staff and advising American citizens to avoid the area until further notice.

Israel’s National Security Council also escalated the travel warning for Arugam Bay and the southern and western coastal regions of Sri Lanka, including the cities of Ahangama, Galle, Hikkaduwa, and Weligama, to level 4. This warning urged Israeli citizens to leave the country or relocate to the capital, Colombo, where there is a greater presence of local security forces. Israeli nationals were also advised to avoid displaying anything that could reveal their identity as Israeli, such as t-shirts with Hebrew text or symbols indicating their religion or nationality.

Sri Lanka has increased security measures around a Jewish community center in Arugam Bay, known as the Chabad House, which is a potential target according to the warnings. The army, navy, and police commandos have been deployed to step up patrols and man roadblocks in the area. This heightened security is in response to social media posts calling for a boycott of Israeli-owned businesses and tensions between Jewish tourists and the local Muslim-majority population.

The warnings come amid protests in Sri Lanka against Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, which have drawn support from the wider community in the predominantly Buddhist nation. Despite no significant terrorist incidents since the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the authorities are taking precautionary measures to protect tourists, especially with the upcoming year-end tourist season.

Sri Lanka’s police have established a new security plan to protect tourists island-wide, including a hotline for tourists to report any safety concerns. The country is recovering from a significant economic crisis, and the tourism sector is crucial for its revitalization..