Minister Herath explained that the suspects are being interrogated. The government has strengthened controls and protection of foreigners, especially tourists from the Jewish State, due to “potential threats.” A Muslim leader speaks of a “conspiracy” to attack the government that has just taken office and “destroy” the economy.
Colombo () – In recent days the police arrested three people based on intelligence reports according to which there are threats of attacks against Israeli citizens – especially tourists – on the island. The Minister of Public Security, Vijitha Herath, reassured the people from the Jewish State and explained that the detainees are now “in the hands of the Anti-Terrorism Investigation Section” and are “Sri Lankan citizens.” “At this moment – he stated in the press conference held yesterday – they are being interrogated to determine if they were planning an attack against Israelis.”
Minister Herath added that “given the conflict situation in the Middle East, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety of tourists.” In this sense, he referred to “certain information” according to which “there could be potential threats to the safety of visitors.” “In response to the information received – he concluded -, we have assigned the police special security and patrol measures in the most popular tourist areas, such as Arugam Bay, Bandarawela, Ella, Matara, Weligama and Ahungalla Beach.”
Sri Lanka Police announced that approximately 500 officers and Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been deployed to enhance security, particularly in the Arugam Bay area. At the same time, intelligence agencies and special units have been dispatched in order to protect all foreign citizens. Police spokesperson Dig Nihal Thalduwa has also created a “hotline” for people arriving in the country for tourism, so they can report any suspicious activity. “The operations – he warned – have also extended to the coastal areas of the south and southeast.”
Meanwhile, some activist groups representing Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority have organized protests against Israel to condemn the wars in Gaza and Lebanon; Some messages have also been published on social networks calling for a boycott of companies or activities linked to the Jewish State that are located on the eastern coast.
Due to the fear that Israeli citizens arouse about conflicts in the Middle East, the Israeli National Security Council issued an urgent warning on October 23 to its fellow citizens to leave the most popular tourist areas in the south of Sri Lanka. The body, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then classified the Arugam Bay region as a level four threat, advising Israelis to take precautions such as hiding their Jewish identity and avoiding large gatherings.
At the same time, to protect the tourism industry, Minister Herath assured that “we will restore normality in a few days, which will allow the lifting of travel warnings issued by the United States and other countries. “These countries are already satisfied with the measures we have implemented and are confident in sending their citizens to Sri Lanka for tourism.”
For their part, several Sinhalese Muslims from the Eastern Province stated that “some powerful people are trying to hinder the recovery of the country that has made little progress with this new government” – in reference to the recent victory in the presidential elections of the leftist candidate and anti-system Anura Kumara Dissanayake – and some forces “want to prevent this positive path and turn it into a difficult situation. These are the results of such attempts.”
“Our people were very affected by the Easter Sunday attacks [contra los cristianos]. Everyone knows that there was a big conspiracy behind it” and there are “suspicions that this time there is also a similar conspiracy, that they are deliberately trying to make the government look bad and destroy the country’s economy.” However, as a leader of the Muslim community, he concludes, “I can assure you that we will never allow tourists who visit that area to be disturbed and those who live there are also very attentive and vigilant.”
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