July 14, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has witnessed a concerning surge in gun-related violence in the first half of 2025, with authorities confirming 68 shooting incidents reported between January 01 and July 13.
According to the Police Media Division, a significant majority of these incidents are believed to be the result of ongoing turf wars and retaliatory attacks within organised criminal networks.
Addressing journalists earlier today (14), Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler provided an overview of the law enforcement response. He stated that police have arrested 24 alleged gunmen in connection with the shootings, along with 15 individuals suspected of serving as getaway drivers or motorcycle riders during the attacks.
A further 150 individuals have been taken into custody for their suspected roles in aiding and abetting the incidents, whether by providing logistical support, harbouring suspects, or facilitating the transport of weapons.
ASP Wootler noted that of the 68 shootings, 50 have been definitively linked to organised criminal activity, while the remaining 18 appear to stem from personal disputes or localised conflicts. The violence has claimed the lives of 37 individuals, 34 of whom are believed to have had direct ties to criminal gangs or underworld operations. In addition, 39 people have sustained injuries—30 of them reportedly affiliated with organised groups.
These figures have prompted renewed concerns about the pervasiveness of illicit firearms and the expanding influence of underworld factions in both urban and rural areas. The police spokesperson also revealed that an intensive series of operations carried out between January 01 and July 10 has led to the seizure of 1,165 weapons.
These include firearms, bladed weapons, and improvised arms, many of which were discovered in targeted raids informed by intelligence gathering and surveillance.
Authorities have pledged to continue the crackdown on armed crime with enhanced coordination among specialised units, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Narcotics Bureau, both of which are believed to be monitoring the financial and operational structures of several criminal outfits.
