Security beefed in Colombo, Weligama, Ella over possible threat

- Security remains beefed in Arugam Bay as well

- STF forces on ground along with intelligence officers

- Three Sri Lankans arrested over terror threats so far

- 22 Israelis left Sri Lanka yesterday

- Additional police officers deployed outside Jewish prayer houses

By AJITH SIRIWARDENA AND DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA

Colombo, October 25 (Daily Mirror) - The elite Special Task Force (STF) have heightened security in Colombo, Weligama and Ella as well, a day after the US Embassy in Colombo gave a warning of a possible terror threat in Arugam Bay, a senior defence source told Daily Mirror last evening.

Security continues to be strengthened in Arugam Bay since the first alert was given by the US and other countries to Sri Lanka’s intelligence community weeks ago but measures have been taken to keep security heightened in Colombo, Weligama and Ella as well until further notice.

The STF is in charge of the operation with several officers deployed on ground along with intelligence officers also stationed in several key areas.

There is no sign as to when this security situation will normalize but all precautionary measures have been taken to prevent any possible incidents and safeguard the tourists as well as the locals, the senior defence source said.

The Daily Mirror learns that additional police and STF forces have also been deployed outside Jewish prayer houses, better know as ‘Chabad Houses’ in these areas to prevent any harm to the Israeli community and tourists residing here. In Weligama, road blocks have been put up to protect the business establishments run by Israeli nationals, creating a stir among locals as to why these nationals were not being questioned as to if they held valid visas.

By last evening it still remained unclear if the Israeli nationals who were running businesses here, mostly in the East and South were being questioned on the status of their visas and if they were overstaying in the country.

Meanwhile Minister Vijitha Herath told the media yesterday that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area and said these suspects were all Sri Lankan nationals.

He said that further details about the suspects will not be disclosed to the public, as doing so could hinder the investigations.

Herath however re-assured the public that comprehensive security measures are in place to protect tourists.

Following the latest developments and the alert given by Israel’s national security council calling on Israelis to immediately leave some tourist areas in Sri Lanka over the threat of a possible terrorist attack, the Daily Mirror learns that at least 22 Israeli nationals left the country yesterday.