Nearly thirteen thousand licensed firearms meant for civilian protection have vanished from official records, prompting urgent national security concerns over possible criminal diversion and regulatory failure.
A sweeping investigation is now underway after authorities confirmed that close to 13,000 licensed firearms issued for crop protection and private property security cannot be traced across Sri Lanka. The alarming revelation has intensified fears that a portion of these missing weapons may have slipped into organized crime networks or the criminal underworld.
Official figures indicate that out of 25,064 firearm permits granted between 1995 and 2024, a staggering 12,971 permits were unaccounted for in recent audits. The discrepancy emerged through a review of quarterly reports submitted by District Secretariats, which showed a sharp drop in valid, traceable permits as of December 31, 2024. Authorities clarified that the decline reflects permits that cannot currently be verified, raising urgent questions about whether the corresponding firearms remain in lawful civilian possession.
Further scrutiny revealed that 7,125 individual firearm permits had not been renewed by the end of 2024, despite strict legal requirements under Sri Lanka’s Gun Ordinance mandating renewal for continued use or ownership. Possessing or using a firearm without a valid permit constitutes a violation of the law, heightening concerns over compliance and enforcement gaps.
Sources within the Ministry of Defence confirmed that security agencies are examining whether firearms originally issued for agricultural and property protection have been diverted to criminal gangs. The probe will involve verification of ownership records, field inspections, and close coordination with law enforcement to trace missing weapons.
The discovery has sparked wider debate over regulatory oversight, record keeping failures, and long term monitoring of civilian firearm licenses issued over nearly three decades. Officials warn that unresolved accountability gaps could pose serious risks to public security if these weapons remain untraced.
