Police need to step up to control gun violence

For a country with prohibitive gun ownership laws, gun violence is becoming as rampant as in certain South American countries where drug lords battle it out for domination of the lucrative drug trade. In the first two weeks of January alone five people have been shot dead and several other injured, all of which are blamed by Police on revenge attacks linked to criminal groups involved in the drug business.

On Thursday two persons were shot dead near the Mannar courts while in another incident the same day, two men on a motorcycle fired at a tyre shop at Kohuwela. The blatant manner in which these attacks were made are disturbing and calls for prompt action. Such incidents are no longer confined to urban areas but take place across many cities in the country.

The previous IGP Deshabandu Thennakoon launched the much hyped ‘yukthiya’ operation to counteract the growing tide of gun and gang violence and it kept the police on their toes for a while. Some in the current Government have boasted that they will not carry out such operations for exhibition purposes but will do so in a manner that there is a crackdown on such groups but by what is happening now, it’s clear to see that not much has happened, in front or behind the scenes. 

This week Janith Madushanka de Silva, widely known as “Podi Lasi,” was arrested in India and brought back to the country. He had been granted conditional bail by the Galle Magistrate’s Court on 9 December 2024, which included a travel ban but he jumped bail and ended up in India.

Similarly Salindu Malshika Gunarathne, widely known as “Kudu Salindu” who was repatriated to the country from Madagascar after the intervention of Lankan authorities on 15 March 2023, and was granted bail on 19 December 2024, after a year in custody, has disappeared and is believed to have fled the country.

As to why the Police are yet to invest in electronic tags and GPS ankle bracelets like those used by law enforcement in other countries to track criminals on bail is suspicious. These are essential in modern day law enforcement and the Government is bound to make the necessary financial allocations to purchase these items.

Meanwhile the growing violence led leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa to issue a statement this week urging President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to act swiftly to suppress these criminal activities and bring to justice those directing these operations.

“I must emphasise the alarming situation in which five shooting incidents were reported within the first 16 days of 2025. These shootings have resulted in five deaths and four injuries, creating an environment where ordinary citizens are unable to carry out their daily activities freely and without fear,” Premadasa said.

“Ensuring the right to life is the fundamental responsibility of any Government. This includes safeguarding citizens’ security, protecting human rights, and ensuring access to health, food, and nutrition. As the Opposition leader, I earnestly urge the President, the current Government, and all heads of security forces to take immediate and decisive action to prevent such incidents,” he said while warning that if the situation escalates, it will severely disrupt normal civilian life and restrict people’s freedom to go about their daily activities.

The concerns raised by Premadasa are a concern among all citizens of this country. In the Mannar court house shooting, one woman killed was a bystander who had come for a court hearing. At the rate that violence is on the rise it is likely that members of the public who go about their daily work will fall victim to the gang wars that are escalating.

It’s time for the Government to move beyond mere words and ensure that there is a concerted effort to crackdown on these gangsters and bring them before the law. In this regard, the Police may have to seek the support of the additional forces as the specialised units in the Police have so far failed in their duties.