March 11, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has been acknowledged as one of the countries with the lowest levels of terrorism, according to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI).
The 12th edition of the annual report, released on March 5, places Sri Lanka at 100th out of 163 nations evaluated.
Remarkably, the country shares the lowest possible score—zero—with 63 other nations, highlighting its success in mitigating terror-related risks.
This improvement is particularly notable, as Sri Lanka has ascended 64 places in the GTI ranking within just one year, demonstrating a significant reduction in the threat of terrorism on the island.
The country’s impressive advancement underlines the ongoing peace and stability following the efforts made to curb violent extremism.
Sri Lanka’s zero score places it on equal footing with Bhutan, both of which have maintained a commendable record of no terrorist incidents in the past five years.
This positions them as the safest nations in the South Asian region regarding terrorism, a noteworthy achievement given the historically volatile security environment of the area.
The 2024 report also highlighted South Asia as the region with the highest average GTI score, although this position has been influenced by the terrorism situation in Pakistan.
Despite an overall deterioration in the region’s scores, primarily driven by Pakistan’s security challenges, there has been a clear decline in terrorism when compared to a decade ago.
All South Asian countries have made notable improvements, with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka particularly benefiting from reduced terror activity.
Pakistan remains a major concern in the region, accounting for a significant portion of the deterioration, with terrorist attacks and fatalities both increasing.
In contrast, Sri Lanka’s continued peace—having recorded no attacks or deaths for five consecutive years—has earned it recognition as the most improved country in South Asia.
Nepal, another success story, recorded no attacks or deaths for the second consecutive year.
The GTI report also emphasises that terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa continues to be the global epicentre, with this area accounting for more than half of all terror-related fatalities worldwide.
This stark contrast underscores the progress made by countries such as Sri Lanka, which has demonstrated that sustained efforts in countering terrorism can lead to lasting peace.
The Global Terrorism Index, produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), is the most comprehensive report on global terrorism trends. It evaluates countries based on a variety of factors, including the number of incidents, fatalities, injuries, and hostage situations, along with conflict and socioeconomic data, to provide an in-depth overview of global terrorism patterns.
