The arrests, all of Sri Lankans, came a day after the U.S. and Israel issued warnings to its citizens to avoid a popular tourist area.

The U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, issued a warning to citizens late on Tuesday based on "credible information" warning of an attack in the southeast of the country.

Israel's national security council called on Israelis on Wednesday to immediately leave some tourist areas in southern Sri Lanka over the threat of a possible terrorist attack. The agency said the warning pertained to the area of Arugam Bay and beaches in the south and west of Sri Lanka,

Sri Lanka beefed up security in tourism hot spots after the US and Israel warned citizens to leave popular beach resort areas because of possible attacks on visitors.

Both the United States and Israel issued security alerts Wednesday warning of a potential attack on tourist locations in a coastal area of Sri Lanka.

Police in Sri Lanka have arrested two people on suspicion of planning to attack Israeli tourists, local media reported on Thursday. The Terrorism Investigation Division arrested two Sri Lankans, including one based in Iraq,