Sri Lanka has witnessed a sharp rise in gun violence, with police reporting 27 shooting incidents since January 1, 2025. These attacks have resulted in 22 deaths and multiple injuries across the country.
Below is a summary of the key incidents over the past three months:
January Shootings
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Jan 4 (Weligama): A 26-year-old man was killed in an attack on a group of five.
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Jan 7 (Mount Lavinia): Two men, aged 36 and 20, were shot dead by an unidentified gunman.
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Jan 9 (Ahungalla): A man linked to the criminal “Loku Patty” was injured in a shooting.
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Jan 13 (Devinuwara): A dried fish merchant survived an attack by assailants posing as customers.
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Jan 15 (Dodangoda): A house in Wilpatha was targeted in a shooting; no injuries reported.
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Jan 16 (Mannar & Kalubowila): Two people were killed and two injured outside the Mannar Magistrate’s Court. A separate shooting near a school in Kalubowila saw no casualties.
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Jan 19 (Mount Lavinia): A contract killing claimed the lives of two men; the shooter was arrested within 15 minutes.
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Jan 22 (Ambalantota): Gunmen in a car fired at a target in Koggala; no injuries reported.
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Jan 31 (Hiniduma, Galle): Three people, including a lodge owner, were killed in a T-56 firearm attack.
February Shootings
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Feb 7 (Minuwangoda): A 35-year-old man was shot dead near a school.
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Feb 10 (Kotahena): A 43-year-old man with alleged gang ties was killed on Benedict Mawatha.
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Feb 19 (Middeniya & Aluthkade): A man and his two children were shot dead. On the same day, notorious criminal Ganemulla Sanjeewa was assassinated inside the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court.
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Feb 21 (Ja-Ela & Kotahena): Two separate shootings left two dead; Kotahena shooters were later killed in police gunfire.
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Feb 26 (Minuwangoda): A man associated with “Kehelbaddara Padme” was injured at Paththaduwana Junction.
March Shootings
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Mar 8 (Gampaha): A motorcycle spare parts shop was targeted in a shooting linked to the late Ganemulla Sanjeewa.
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Mar 13 (Galle & Weliweriya): Former Boossa Prison Superintendent Siridath Dhammika was killed at his home. A separate shooting in Weliweriya left a 26-year-old man injured.
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Mar 14 (Ambalangoda): A 39-year-old man, known as “Podi Sudda,” was shot dead.
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Mar 17 (Midigama & Grandpass): A house in Pathegama was shot at, with no injuries. Later, two youths were injured in a shooting on Nagalagam Street, Grandpass.
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Mar 22 (Devinuwara): Two men, aged 28 and 29, were killed near the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya.
Authorities are investigating the surge in gun-related crimes, with many incidents suspected to be linked to organized crime and contract killings.
