Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament on Friday that Sri Lanka has witnessed 79 shooting incidents over the past seven months, resulting in 52 deaths and injuries to 35 others. The incidents occurred between September 21, 2024, and May 8, 2025.
Responding to a question raised by an opposition MP, Minister Wijepala disclosed that 62 of the shootings were linked to organised crime gangs, while the remaining 17 were attributed to other actors.
He noted that law enforcement had made significant progress, with 260 individuals arrested in connection with these crimes—229 of them affiliated with organised criminal networks.
“There has been no significant increase in shooting incidents compared to 2022, 2023, or 2024,” the Minister said, countering allegations that gun violence has surged under the current administration. “It is unacceptable to suggest that violence has escalated since the new government came to power.”
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