Travel Restrictions at Surfing Destination Arugam Bay and Others
Concerns Over Large-Scale Terrorism Amid Israel-Iran Confrontation
The authorities of the United States and Israel have issued travel restrictions to Sri Lanka, a Buddhist country in Southeast Asia, along with evacuation warnings for tourists already visiting. Although neither country specified the exact risk factors, the prevailing analysis is that the possibility of terrorist attacks by armed groups linked to Iran has increased amid growing concerns of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran. In 2019, Sri Lanka experienced a large-scale bombing attack by the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS), resulting in hundreds of deaths.
"Do not wear T-shirts displaying Hebrew, religious, or nationality symbols"… Terror risk warning
According to CNN, on the 23rd (local time), the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka issued a security alert and announced travel restrictions to Arugam Bay, a popular surfing tourist destination in Sri Lanka. The embassy stated, "We have received credible information about a terrorist attack targeting popular tourist sites within the Arugam Bay area," and added, "Travel restrictions to the area will be imposed until further notice."
The Israeli National Security Council also issued a security alert on the same day, recommending refraining from travel throughout Sri Lanka. Israeli authorities advised, "It is advisable to leave Arugam Bay as well as the southern and western coastal areas of Sri Lanka immediately and move at least to Colombo, the capital, where local security forces are heavily present," and warned, "We recommend not displaying anything that could reveal Israeli identity, such as T-shirts with Hebrew writing or symbols indicating religion or nationality."
Both countries' security agencies have not disclosed specific details about the terrorist threats but consider them to be threats from Middle Eastern terrorist organizations. As Israel has been engaged in successive conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, the Middle East war is showing signs of escalation, increasing the risk of terrorist attacks targeting Israelis abroad.
Quiet since the 2019 IS terror attack... Will a large-scale attack occur?
Sri Lanka is a Buddhist country where over 70% of the population practices Buddhism, but about 10% of the population, mainly Muslims who migrated from neighboring Islamic countries such as Malaysia, practice Islam. There have also been anti-Israel protests by Islamic groups opposing the increasing civilian casualties among Palestinians amid the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, indicating a considerable risk of terrorism.
In fact, in April 2019, a large-scale bombing attack occurred in Sri Lanka. Simultaneous attacks took place at three churches holding Easter celebrations and three luxury hotels in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, resulting in 279 deaths, including 45 foreigners. The terrorist group IS claimed responsibility for the attacks, which led to subsequent chaos, including attacks by Buddhists on Islamic mosques.
The Sri Lankan authorities are also on high alert for potential terrorist incidents and have expressed their intention to respond accordingly. According to U.S. CBS News, the Sri Lankan Police Department issued a statement saying, "Considering the war situations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, we are cooperating closely with intelligence agencies to develop plans to protect tourists and resorts," and added, "A hotline has also been established to report safety concerns of tourists to the relevant authorities."
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