The Ministry of Defense has announced a review process concerning all firearms temporarily issued to civilians, with plans to reassess the potential reissuance of these weapons to the Government. This decision is grounded in the authority granted to the Secretary of Defense under Sections 6(1) and 6(2) of the Firearms Ordinance Act No. 33 of 1916.
All license holders have been notified to return their issued firearms and accompanying ammunition to the Government Commercial Explosives Warehouse at Welisara, operated by the Sri Lanka Navy, by November 7, 2024. Upon completion of this return, recipients must also submit a copy of the acceptance receipt from the warehouse to the Civil Defense and Development Division, located near the main gate of the Ministry of Defense.
The Ministry has cautioned that failure to return the firearms by the specified date may result in legal action under the Firearms Ordinance Act No. 33 of 1916. It is important to note that this directive does not extend to firearms issued by the Ministry for property protection, crop damage mitigation, or sporting purposes.
In related news, it has been reported that former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who resigned from office and subsequently fled the country, distributed 1,690 weapons to approximately 1,500 individuals for personal use during his administration.
Additionally, it is alleged that previous Rajapaksa administrations provided firearms to several prominent figures, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, former Minister Johnston Fernando, and close associate of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Major Nisshanka Senadhipa.
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, a former Navy officer, is reported to have received seven firearms, including six 9mm pistols, while Johnston Fernando allegedly acquired eight firearms, comprising three 9mm pistols and five bore repeaters. Furthermore, Nisshanka Senadhipa, owner of the Avangard Institute, is said to have been issued seven pistols and two bore repeaters.
