DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA 
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SL sees alarming rise in shootings, murders, and fatal accidents in 2025
- Over 300 murders and nearly 2,000 road deaths in 2025
- 50 killed in shootings
Colombo, Sep 18 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka is witnessing growing concern over a surge in violent incidents this year, with the number of shootings, murders, and fatal road accidents already surpassing figures recorded during the same period last year.
A sharp increase in shootings, most linked to underworld gang activity and fatal road accidents, has dominated headlines in 2025. However, it's not only gun violence and traffic collisions that are worrying authorities, the number of murders reported nationwide has also shown a troubling rise.
According to Police data, 300 murders were recorded in the first seven months of 2025. In comparison, 556 murders were reported throughout all of 2024. Of the 300 murders reported this year, police say they have solved 272 cases, while 516 of the 556 murders reported last year were also solved.
Shootings continue to pose a serious threat to public safety. In 2024, Sri Lanka recorded 103 shooting incidents, which left 61 people dead and 47 injured. However, in 2025, from January up to the latest reported incident in Ambalangoda on September 9, a staggering 99 shootings have already been recorded, resulting in 50 deaths and 56 injuries.
Police attribute the vast majority of fatal shootings, this year and last, to turf wars between organised crime gangs, particularly those involved in drug trafficking.
Of the shootings reported this year, 44 people, including several innocent bystanders, were shot dead in gang-related violence.
Meanwhile, fatal road accidents continue to claim lives at an alarming rate. As of September 16, police reported 1,838 fatal accidents nationwide, which have claimed 1,955 lives so far in 2025.
In addition, 3,708 serious accidents, 6,827 minor accidents, and 2,858 damage-only incidents have also been reported this year.
Two of the deadliest road accidents in 2025 have further intensified public alarm. In May, a tragic bus crash occurred in Gerandi Ella, Kotmale, when an SLTB bus traveling from Kataragama to Kurunegala veered off the Nuwara Eliya–Gampola main road and plunged approximately 100 feet down a precipice. The incident resulted in 22 to 23 deaths and 60 to 61 injuries.
The second fatal accident occurred on September 4 along the Ella–Wellawaya road, when a bus collided with a SUV and plunged nearly 1,000 feet into a ravine. The bus, carrying 30 passengers, many of them employees and family members of the Tangalle Urban Council, was returning from a leisure trip. The crash resulted in 16 deaths, including the driver, and 18 injuries.
Police said the total number of road accidents and fatalities this year is nearing the 2024 figures.
Last year, Sri Lanka recorded 2,253 fatal accidents with 2,259 deaths. There were also 6,762 serious accidents, 9,945 minor accidents, and 5,629 damage-only incidents.
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