- विज्ञापन -
On Wednesday, the Israel National Security Council advised its citizens to evacuate Arugam Bay and the southern and western coastal areas of Sri Lanka urgently due to a perceived terrorist threat. The US embassy also issued a security alert, indicating it had received “credible information” regarding a potential attack on popular tourist sites in the Arugam Bay region.
In its statement, the Israel National Security Council urged Israeli nationals in Sri Lanka to exercise extreme caution and increase their safety measures.
“The travel advisory for Arugam Bay and the coastal regions of southern and western Sri Lanka—including the cities of Ahangama, Galle, Hikkaduwa, and Weligama—has been escalated to level 4. We recommend leaving these areas immediately. For those already there, we suggest either departing the country or at least relocating to Colombo, which has a stronger presence of local security forces. The overall travel warning for Sri Lanka has been raised to level 3, advising Israelis planning to visit to postpone any non-essential trips. If you do travel to Sri Lanka, it is important to avoid areas with level-4 alerts,” the announcement stated.
🔊 The National Security Council Urges Israelis to Leave Arugam Bay and Coastal Areas in Southern and Western Sri Lanka Immediately
The National Security Council has issued an urgent call for Israelis to leave the Arugam Bay area and the southern and western coastal regions of… pic.twitter.com/gcrd2yAYE5
— Israel News Pulse (@israelnewspulse) October 23, 2024
The advisory encouraged citizens to refrain from openly displaying items that might identify them as Israelis, such as t-shirts featuring Hebrew text or any symbols that reveal their religion or nationality. “Avoid gatherings of Israeli citizens in public areas lacking security. Report any suspicious or unusual occurrences to local security authorities,” the statement continued. Additionally, it mentioned that Israeli security forces are closely cooperating with Sri Lankan security agencies to monitor the situation.
Arugam Bay is a renowned tourist hotspot located in the southeastern part of Sri Lanka, specifically in the Tamil-majority Ampara district. Known as the surf capital of Sri Lanka, it attracts a significant number of tourists, particularly Israeli ones, due to its beautiful scenery and favorable surfing conditions. Many Israelis typically visit Arugam Bay during the surfing seasons in March and October, and currently, approximately 50% of the tourists there are Israeli.
Recently, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vijitha Herath expressed concern regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire. “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening day by day, and the latest developments are troubling, particularly in relation to Lebanon,” Dr. Herath remarked.
Israel’s recent warning, along with the US advisory, has raised concerns among tourists in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka.
