As 2025 draws to a close, police statistics expose a chilling portrait of a nation gripped by organized crime, with gun violence spilling into homes, hospitals, and public spaces.
With only hours remaining in 2025, Sri Lanka recorded two more shooting incidents, underscoring what police describe as one of the bloodiest years in recent memory. According to official police statistics, 114 shooting incidents were reported across the island during the year, leaving 60 people dead and 57 others injured.
Initial investigations indicate that both shootings reported on December 31 were carried out by organized crime gangs, reflecting the deepening grip of underworld violence. One incident occurred around 10.30 pm in the Bodhiwatte area of Kohuwala. Police said a gunman arrived on a motorcycle, opened fire at a house, and fled the scene. The suspect was later captured on CCTV footage.
A 16 year old girl who was injured during the shooting is currently receiving treatment in hospital. Police stated that the gunman had missed his intended target and accidentally shot the girl instead. Further investigations revealed that a person involved in drug trafficking lives near the girl’s house and is currently in prison. He is reportedly affiliated with the criminal gang led by ‘Badovita Asanka’.
Police said Avishka Eshan, linked to a rival gang, is suspected of aiding and abetting a murder that took place in Nugegoda on December 22. As a result, Eshan is believed to have targeted the suspect’s mother and brother in law. The gunmen allegedly shouted, “You are the ones who give information to Badovita Asanka.”
Meanwhile, another shooting was reported at the Nagoda Teaching Hospital in Kalutara on the morning of December 31. An inmate receiving treatment under prison guard protection was shot by an unknown gunman. The injured person was identified as Dilip Chathuranga alias ‘Rajawatte Chathuwa’. He remains hospitalised with abdominal injuries after the gunman fled the scene.
