July 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has witnessed 22 shooting incidents since the beginning of the year, resulting in 15 fatalities and 12 injuries, with almost half of the attacks taking place within a two-week period between July 11 and 25, according to police.
Of the 22 incidents recorded so far in 2026, ten occurred during the fortnight ending July 25. Those attacks claimed three lives and left five others injured. While several incidents were fatal or caused injuries, others targeted homes and property or appeared intended to intimidate specific individuals without causing casualties. Police have arrested a number of suspects in connection with the shootings, while investigations into the remaining cases are ongoing.
Sri Lanka Police say the recent increase in gun violence is closely linked to rival drug trafficking syndicates and organised criminal networks engaged in territorial disputes, contract killings and retaliatory attacks.
Responding to questions regarding the series of shootings reported in recent weeks, including the latest incident on Saturday, Police Spokesman Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler said every case investigated so far has revealed connections to organised crime and the illicit narcotics trade.
According to ASP Wootler, rival gangs are increasingly using armed attacks to eliminate competitors, settle financial disagreements and prevent opposing groups from expanding their influence. He said many of those believed to be directing the attacks are currently based overseas, while the intended targets are often relatives, associates or close contacts of rival gang members. Such attacks, he explained, are intended not only to eliminate targets but also to intimidate competing criminal organisations.
He said the Sri Lanka Police, acting under the direction of the Inspector General of Police, have strengthened intelligence-led operations, including detailed analysis of telephone records and other communications, in an effort to identify both the organisers and those carrying out the shootings.
Referring to the fatal shooting near the Bellanwila walking track on July 25, ASP Wootler said police apprehended two suspects within an hour of the attack. Investigators believe one suspect was the gunman, while the other allegedly rode the motorcycle used during the crime. Preliminary investigations also indicate that both suspects were heavily dependent on narcotics.
The Police Spokesman further revealed that investigators are increasingly encountering cases in which contract killers are allegedly being paid in drugs rather than cash. He said some suspects appear willing to carry out murders in exchange for relatively small quantities of illegal narcotics, highlighting the growing influence of the drug trade on violent crime.
Explaining the apparent pattern of multiple shootings occurring within short periods, ASP Wootler said organised criminal groups often wait until they have tracked the movements of their intended victims and identified opportunities when police visibility is reduced before launching attacks.
While acknowledging that it is impossible to station police officers at every location, he said law enforcement agencies remain committed to preventing violent crime through intelligence gathering, surveillance and targeted operations. He added that police will continue to take firm action against organised criminal groups and those responsible for drug-related violence.
The shootings reported between July 11 and 25 include a series of attacks across several parts of the country. On July 11, gunmen travelling on a motorcycle opened fire at a house in Neboda, Matugama, although no one was injured. Four days later, during a narcotics operation in Katunayake, a suspected drug trafficker allegedly seized a traffic police officer’s service weapon and fired at the officer, leaving him injured.
On July 16, a 26-year-old man from Kaduwela was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Wandurabumulla, Navagamuwa. Three days later, a 56-year-old security guard sustained gunshot injuries while on duty at the Nisala Sewana public cemetery in Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia. On the same day, a 24-year-old suspect was shot and injured by police in Bokundara, Piliyandala after allegedly attempting to attack officers with a sword.
The violence continued on July 21 when unidentified gunmen travelling in a car fired multiple shots at the residence of a fisherman in Devinuwara. Although the property was damaged, no injuries were reported. The following night, the home of a police sergeant in the Walawala area of Beliatta came under gunfire, but the officer and family members escaped unharmed.
On July 23, a 39-year-old man was shot dead while attending a child’s birthday celebration at a function hall in Palliyawatta, Wattala. Later that same day, another shooting near the Kuppiyawatta Cemetery in Dematagoda left one man seriously injured.
The latest fatal incident occurred on July 25, when a 55-year-old restaurant owner was shot dead near the entrance to the Bellanwila walking track along the Dehiwala–Boralesgamuwa Road, prompting a swift police response that resulted in the arrest of two suspects.
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