December 26, Colombo (LNW): Recent shootings across Sri Lanka are largely the result of escalating conflicts between rival drug traffickers, Police said.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya confirmed that investigations are actively underway to uncover further details surrounding these incidents, which have raised concerns about public safety.
Over the past few weeks, gun violence has been reported in several regions, including Galle, Dadalla, Meegoda, Yakkala, Maligakanda, Ja-Ela, Wellawa, and Kurunegala.
In total, the country has seen 101 shooting incidents so far this year, which have tragically claimed the lives of 56 individuals.
The police attribute much of this violence to turf wars between competing drug dealers seeking control over key areas for their illicit activities.
In light of the increasing number of shootings, the police have formed a new organised crime control committee, under the leadership of Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya, aimed at tackling the surge in violent crimes.
The committee, designed to coordinate efforts between various law enforcement agencies, will be led by the Senior Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs) overseeing the Western and Southern Provinces.
This team will also comprise the Commander of the Police Special Task Force, the DIGs responsible for the Police Special Branch, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), as well as 10 other DIGs from various regions.
The committee will additionally include senior officers from key divisions such as the Crimes Intelligence Analysis and Prevention Division, the Colombo Crime Division, and Crime Divisions from Kalutara, Galle, and Matara.
An officer from the State Intelligence Service will also be part of the committee, which brings together a total of 20 experienced officers.
This collective effort aims to target the root causes of the violence, with a particular focus on the growing influence of the drug trade, and to restore peace and order in the affected communities.
The police have emphasised that tackling this issue requires a multi-faceted approach, combining intelligence gathering, targeted operations, and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to dismantle the organised crime networks fuelling the violence.
