22 killed in 27 shooting incidents thus far in 2025

Monday, 24 March 2025 03:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Police have reported a surge in gun violence across Sri Lanka, with 27 shooting incidents recorded since 1 January 2025. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of 22 people, with several others injured.

Below is a summary of the key incidents reported over the past three months.

January shootings

4 January (Weligama) – A 26-year-old man was killed in a shooting attack on a group of five people walking in the Valliwela area of Kapparathota.

7 January (Mount Lavinia) – Two residents, aged 36 and 20, were shot dead by an unknown gunman on Watarappala Road.

9 January (Ahungalla) – A man, identified as a relative of a criminal gang member named ‘Loku Patty,’ was injured in a shooting.

13 January (Devinuwara) – A dried fish merchant narrowly escaped a shooting outside his home when assailants posed as customers.

15 January (Dodangoda) – A house in Wilpatha was targeted in a shooting, though no injuries were reported.

16 January (Mannar and Kalubowila) – Two people were killed and two others injured in a shooting outside the Mannar Magistrate’s Court. The same day, gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire near a school in Kalubowila, but no casualties were reported.

19 January (Mount Lavinia) – A 24-year-old and a 36-year-old were killed in a contract killing for Rs. 1.5 million. The shooter was arrested within 15 minutes.

22 January (Ambalantota) – Gunmen in a car fired at a person in Koggala, but no injuries were reported.

31 January (Hiniduma, Galle) – Three people, including a lodge owner, were killed in a shooting carried out with a T-56 firearm.

February shootings

7 February (Minuwangoda) – A 35-year-old man was shot dead near a school by two gunmen on a motorcycle.

10 February (Kotahena) – A 43-year-old man, reportedly linked to an organised crime gang, was killed in a shooting on Benedict Mawatha.

19 February (Middeniya and Aluthkade) – A man and his two young children were shot dead. On the same day, notorious criminal ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ was assassinated inside the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court by a suspect disguised as a lawyer.

21 February (Ja-Ela and Kotahena) – Two separate shootings left two people dead. The Kotahena shooters were later arrested and killed in Police gunfire.

26 February (Minuwangoda) – A man linked to the criminal ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’ was injured in a shooting at Paththaduwana Junction.

March shootings

8 March (Gampaha) – A motorcycle spare parts shop was targeted in a shooting linked to the slain ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa.’

13 March (Galle and Weliweriya) – Former Boossa Prison Superintendent Siridath Dhammika was shot dead at his home. Another shooting in Weliweriya left a 26-year-old man injured.

14 March (Ambalangoda) – A 39-year-old man, known as ‘Podi Sudda,’ was shot and killed.

17 March (Midigama and Grandpass) – A house in Pathegama was shot at, but no injuries were reported. Another two youths were injured in a shooting on Nagalagam Street in Grandpass.

22 March (Devinuwara) – Two young men, aged 28 and 29, were killed in a shooting near the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya.