A total of 42 shooting incidents and 25 related fatalities have been reported across Sri Lanka so far this year, according to police sources.
Authorities say the majority of these violent incidents are linked to an escalating drug-related conflict between rival underworld gangs.
In just the past three days, three separate shootings have been reported:
- May 3: Two gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire with a T56 assault rifle near a restaurant in Meetiyagoda, resulting in one fatality and one injury.
- May 4: A candidate contesting the upcoming local government election was shot and hospitalized in Nagoda, Kalutara.
- May 5: A 19-year-old youth was fatally shot on Mount Lavinia Beach Road in the early hours of the morning. CCTV footage shows the young man being chased and gunned down by an armed assailant.
The ongoing surge in gun violence has raised serious concerns among the public and law enforcement agencies, who are now intensifying efforts to curb gang-related activities across the island.
