Last week, warnings were issued about a potential attack targeting locations where Israelis are staying in the Arugambe area of Sri Lanka. Although we have not encountered any such threats so far, the Sri Lankan government has implemented a comprehensive program to ensure the safety of tourists.
In Arugambe, and in the surrounding areas where tourists stay, a security mechanism has been established involving police and military forces. Intelligence operations have been intensified. There is growing suspicion that an individual named Bilan may be behind a plan to target Jews in Arugambe.
It is suspected that Bilan is an individual who has frequently visited Iraq and received two hundred thousand dollars to fund the attack on the Jewish religious centre in Arugambe. Intelligence agencies have been investigating to uncover the mastermind behind the Arugambe attack.
Is there an Iranian connection to this plan? is the other point. Iran can be identified as a country that continues to emphasise the need to end the existence of the Jewish state. Their argument is that Israel must be destroyed.
The intelligence agencies discovered that the attack was planned for a Jewish religious festival between October 19 and 24. A warning was issued at the beginning of October.
Mohammed Bilan, who speaks Sinhala
Mohammed Bilan, born to a Maldivian father and a Sri Lankan mother, is a fluent Sinhala speaker. He was accompanied by former LTTE member Yogarajan, who has also been arrested so far.
A Tamil national named Subramaniam and a Sinhalese individual are currently being interrogated by the Terrorist Investigation Division in connection with this matter. It has also been reported that the Sinhalese individual has ties to the underworld. Operations are underway to locate two other people abroad who had contact with them.
Iran’s hope
The total number of military personnel in the Iranian army is 523000. This includes approximately 350,000 members of the regular army and around 150,000 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Additionally, about 20,000 personnel serve in the naval wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, according to the British International Institute for Strategic Studies.
One of the responsibilities assigned to the naval division is to operate the armed boats in the Strait of Hormuz. In 2019, several crises arose in the area concerning oil ships sailing under foreign flags due to this activity.
The Islamic Revolutionary Army, established 44 years ago to defend Iran’s Islamic system, has evolved into a significant political and economic force. The Quds Force, led by General Qasem Suleimani, conducts covert operations in foreign countries on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Army. Reports about these operations are communicated directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The troops are organised into a battalion consisting of 5,000 active members. In January 2020, General Soleimani, regarded as Iran’s second-in-command, was killed in an airstrike near Baghdad Airport in Iraq. It was also notable to see the supreme leader of Iran shed tears when he approached his body.
Is Ismail Khan a spy of Israel?
The pro-Iranian groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, Yemen’s Houthis, and Iraq’s Shia militias, are all influenced by the Quds Force. Iranian power in the region is extended through these military operations. It is important to note that Iran has particularly focused on Israel, viewing it as its archenemy.
The Quds Force will do everything it can to destroy Israel. General Soleimani was killed when he secretly entered Iraq from Syria. He was struck by a Hellfire missile fired from an American drone. Also killed in the attack was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the head of the pro-Iranian Shiite militia in Iraq.
Currently, the commander of the Quds Army, Ismail Khan, is in custody and is reported to be an Israeli spy. While the details remain unclear, these points are important to consider when discussing the associated risks.
Iran, Israel rift and Arugambe
Warnings of a potential terrorist attack in the Arugambe area have been issued, reflecting broader global tensions. Last week, the US Embassy shared this warning on its Twitter account, which reignited fears in Sri Lanka.
The tourism sector experienced the most significant impact. The American Embassy in Colombo issued a warning on its website for Americans travelling to Sri Lanka. It stated, “The embassy has received reliable information about a potential attack targeting popular tourist spots in Arugam Bay.”
Due to the significant risk posed by this threat, the embassy has decided to impose a travel ban on Arugambe until further notice. Additionally, a resident of the Mawanella area was observed lingering around the residence of the Royal Consul General. Consequently, measures are being taken to apprehend him. A separate investigation is also underway regarding this matter.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year, intelligence agencies have been vigilant about the safety of foreigners visiting Arugambe. Although Abu Hind was mentioned in relation to the Easter attack, there hasn’t been any similar discussion this time.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has reported that during the first eight months of 2024, the tourism industry generated $2.16 billion. This marks a 66% increase compared to 2023. Notably, more Israelis are visiting Sri Lanka than Americans. In a press conference held at the Ministry of Public Security on October 24, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya stated that there are currently 575 Israelis in Sri Lanka.
They prefer to hang out on the East Coast. In late 2018, Sri Lanka was named the best country to visit in 2019 by Lonely Planet, a travel guide publishing company that is the world’s most popular in its field. However, the Easter attacks threw everything into disarray. The rebuilding tourism industry must not be allowed to collapse due to the issues in Arugambe.
The problem arising from the Sri Lankan society
Arugambe is currently in the news in Sri Lanka, while last Saturday morning, the Israeli Air Force conducted a significant strike on Iranian military targets. Following the attack, the Israeli Air Force stated that it did not target any civilians or oil refineries.
America also urged Israel not to target Iranian oil depots. In response to these attacks, Iran announced that two of its soldiers had been killed. On October 1, Iran launched a large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israel. The Iranian authorities stated that the strikes were aimed at locations in the Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces.
The Iranian military reported that it successfully countered the attack, though some areas experienced “limited damage.” This highlights the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which shows no signs of resolution. In response to the situation, countries like Sri Lanka have begun taking measures to manage the consequences of the conflict.
We need to pay attention to Mehmed Ahmed Bilan. Who is he, and why does he have a motive to launch an attack in Sri Lanka? This situation has created significant issues within society. He is the individual who organised an attack on the Jews in Arugambay.
Reports have emerged that Bilan has frequently visited Iraq. Who is the mastermind behind the $200,000 sent to attack the Jewish religious centre in Arugambe? Does this have any connections to Iran? Sri Lankan society is now seeking answers to these pressing questions.
