- Heightened security at Chabad houses
- Four in Weligama, Arugam Bay, Ella, and Colombo
- Police investigations underway, 3 arrests so far
- Police await total count of Israelis in SL
In light of recent terror threats, Public Security Ministry Secretary Ravi Seneviratne has confirmed that security measures have been significantly enhanced nationwide.
“The situation is currently under control,” he said, emphasising that authorities were actively implementing precautions to address any potential risks.
Seneviratne told The Sunday Morning that with the support of all security forces, Sri Lanka had been able to bring the situation under control.
“This threat is not just targeted at Sri Lanka; it affects all countries with an Israeli population. This is primarily due to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
“However, we have brought the situation under control in Sri Lanka. Even some diplomatic missions have acknowledged that,” he said.
Nevertheless, Seneviratne noted that the high security imposed in certain areas would remain and that the situation would continue to be monitored.
The Defence Ministry too told The Sunday Morning that the situation that prevailed last week following the warnings being issued had now been brought under control.
Security has been tightened at four Chabad houses across Sri Lanka following recent threat alerts issued by the US and Israel, warning of potential attacks on tourist locations along the country’s coastal areas, according to Police.
The Chabad houses – Jewish prayer centres – are located in Weligama, Ella, Colombo, and Arugam Bay, which have been identified as areas of concern.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa confirmed that heightened security measures were in place at these Chabad houses in response to the alerts.
The warnings emerged last week, when the US Embassy and Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) issued advisories about potential threats to tourist areas, prompting increased vigilance throughout the region.
The US Embassy issued an alert on Wednesday (23), stating it had received “credible information” about a potential attack targeting popular tourist locations in Arugam Bay.
The embassy imposed an immediate travel restriction on its personnel, advising US citizens to avoid the area. The notice emphasised the seriousness of the threat, urging American visitors to steer clear of Arugam Bay “until further notice”.
In a similar vein, Israel’s NSC raised its travel advisory for Sri Lanka to Level 4, the highest warning, citing “credible terrorism threats” in the coastal and tourist regions.
The advisory specifically covered southern and western coastal areas, including cities like Ahangama, Galle, Hikkaduwa, and Weligama.
It instructed Israeli citizens to “immediately leave” these areas and recommended moving to Colombo, where security forces are more heavily deployed.
The alert also advised against displaying any items that could reveal Israeli nationality or religious affiliation, such as clothing with Hebrew writing or symbols of Jewish identity.
Nevertheless, according to Police, Sri Lankan authorities have not requested Israeli citizens to leave the country, opting instead to offer protection where needed.
According to Thalduwa, the Government is coordinating with local residents who are hosting Israeli nationals to ensure Police protection is provided.
“We have urged Sri Lankans providing accommodation to Israeli visitors to notify the Police so that security can be arranged,” he said.
The Police is also awaiting data from the Department of Immigration and Emigration to determine the number of Israeli nationals currently in the country.
“It is challenging to obtain a precise figure due to the continuous movement of people in and out of Sri Lanka,” Thalduwa noted.
As of Friday (25), authorities were still gathering information on the exact number of Israeli citizens present.
In addition to increasing the security around Jewish religious centres, Sri Lankan authorities have been vigilant following the onset of hostilities in Gaza. The Police has intensified its monitoring of various foreign nationals, including Ukrainians and Russians, amidst the heightened geopolitical tensions.
The recent developments also coincide with growing protests in Sri Lanka against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. According to Police, three individuals have been arrested in connection with these protests, and investigations are underway, although no further details have been disclosed.
Sri Lanka has not experienced any major terrorist attacks since the coordinated Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, which targeted three churches and three luxury hotels, resulting in over 250 fatalities.
There have been no significant incidents reported since then.