Gun Violence Spills into New Year

• Police to strengthen surveillance and public intelligence to tackle gun crime 
• Police recover 15 spent 9mm bullet casings from the scene of the shooting   
• Youth killed, two injured in Nawagamuwa shooting 
• More than 70 per cent of suspects and shooters involved have already been arrested

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

Continuing the gun-related violence that plagued Sri Lanka throughout 2025, the New Year began with a fatal shooting allegedly linked to rival underworld groups. 

A 20-year-old youth was shot dead, and two others were injured on New  Year’s night while attending a New Year’s party at a rented house in  Nawagamuwa.

Sri Lanka experienced a significant surge in gun-related violence in 2025, surpassing the previous year in both the number of incidents and casualties. By the end of the year, police had recorded 114 shooting incidents island-wide, resulting in 60 deaths and 57 injuries. Police said more than 73 per cent of these shootings were directly linked to organised crime syndicates and drug trafficking rivalries. 

Many of the shootings were allegedly orchestrated by traffickers operating from overseas or even from within the prison system, police said. 

In comparison, 2024 recorded 103 shooting incidents, resulting in 61 deaths and 47 injuries. Of these, 56 incidents that caused 45 deaths were attributed to organised crime, while 47 incidents resulting in 16 deaths stemmed from personal or domestic disputes. Despite the lower number of incidents in 2024, the number of fatalities remained similar to 2025. 

The first shooting incident of the new year was reported on Korathota–Menikgara Road in Nawagamuwa on Thursday night.

According to initial investigations by the Nawagamuwa Police, a group of suspects arrived at the rented house on a motorcycle and a three-wheeler, opened fire at the occupants, and fled the scene. 

One of the victims, a 20-year-old resident of Borella, was shot near the bathroom and died at the scene. Two others, residents of Wadiyagoda in Ambalantota and Gewalamulla in Dematagoda, sustained gunshot injuries and were admitted to hospital. 

The injured victims were initially taken to the Oruwala Regional Hospital in Athurugiriya and later transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital for further treatment. 

Police recovered 15 spent 9mm bullet casings from the scene and believe the shooting occurred between 9.30 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. Investigators said the three youths had moved into the rented house about one and a half months ago and were attending a New Year’s celebration at the time of the attack. 

Although the exact motive has yet to be revealed, police suspect the shooting was the result of an ongoing conflict between rival underworld groups. 

The Nawagamuwa Police, together with the Nugegoda Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau, are conducting further investigations to identify and arrest the suspects. 

Meanwhile, commenting on the rise in gun violence and the challenges ahead, Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler told the Daily Mirror that shootings and other criminal activities pose a serious challenge to the Sri Lanka Police, with the majority linked to drug trafficking. 

He said more than 70 per cent of suspects and shooters involved in recent incidents have already been arrested, adding that search operations across the country have been intensified and will continue this year. 

ASP Wootler said that between January and December 2025, police checked over eight million individuals as part of island-wide operations, leading to the arrest of 6,821 suspects connected to various criminal activities. 

Authorities also seized 1,797 kilograms of heroin and 3,691 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (methamphetamine) during the same period. 

He said police operations against underworld activities and drug trafficking would continue this year with increased support from the tri-forces and intelligence units. Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya has instructed senior officers to take maximum action to prevent crime, using intelligence gathered from the public and community security committees. 

According to police, many of these crimes are being carried out by individuals operating from overseas. Sri Lanka is working closely with international partners to track them down and disrupt their operations. 

ASP Wootler said Sri Lankan authorities have secured extradition of 21 wanted suspects from overseas during the past two years and obtained more than 90 Interpol Red Notices. He said that strengthened ties between the IGP and international police chiefs have helped expedite extradition processes, and that remaining wanted suspects would be brought back to Sri Lanka in due course.