The Hon. Ananda Wijepala - Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs

¶ 01 (a) (i) Number of shootings reported:

¶ 02 - 2020: 36 - 2021: 37 - 2022: 93 - 2023: 111 - 2024: 99 - 2025: 140

¶ 03 (ii) Number of deceased and injured persons:

¶ 04 - 2020: deceased 20; injured 16 - 2021: deceased 22; injured 19 - 2022: deceased 68; injured 53 - 2023: deceased 56; injured 73 - 2024: deceased 64; injured 50 - 2025: deceased 65; injured 68

¶ 05 (iii) During the recent period, shootings were reported among criminal groups, organized criminal networks, drug-smuggling groups, and among various parties over personal reasons. To control this situation, the Sri Lanka Police, within the prevailing legal framework and using modern technology, has launched a number of practical programmes including instant operations and intelligence-driven measures to safeguard law and order across the Island. In line with the President’s “Ratama Ekata” (Country Together) concept and the instructions of the Hon. Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs and the Secretary to the Ministry, the following measures have been taken:

¶ 06 1) Identify main drivers of shootings - Conflicts among organized criminal groups - Drug trafficking and loan disputes - Illegal possession of firearms - Personal and family disputes - Crimes coordinated remotely by overseas criminal networks

¶ 07 2) Special operations and searches - Special joint operations targeting organized criminals - Enhanced night patrols, emergency vehicle checks, and checkpoints - Special search operations targeting suspects, criminal networks, and their associates - Establishment of an emergency motorcycle strike squad combining the Police Special Task Force and Police, staffed by specially trained officers for rapid pursuit and arrest

¶ 08 These operations identify criminals’ routes, hideouts, and hidden arms caches for legal action, carried out jointly by local police stations, special units, and intelligence units.

¶ 09 3) Searching for and seizing illegal firearms - Searches of suspicious locations, residences, vehicles, and storages - Seizure of illegal firearms, ammunition, and related equipment - Identifying and prosecuting weapons supply and distribution networks This aims to reduce illegal weapons circulation and prevent new arms proliferation in the country.

¶ 10 4) Intelligence gathering - Weekly online reviews with division, district, and station heads to assess progress and discuss organized crime countermeasures, with continuous guidance; a declining trend in crime is observed - Crime intelligence units collect offender information - Monitoring activities of organized criminal groups - Analyzing suspects’ movement patterns, networks, and transactions Intelligence-led operations enable pre-emption of planned shootings.

¶ 11 5) Securing public cooperation - Special programmes and hotlines to obtain public information - Strengthening Community Policing - Protecting informant confidentiality and providing monetary rewards Public support has enabled rapid identification of plans and suspects.

¶ 12 6) Special actions against organized criminals - Establishment of Provincial Special Crime Investigation Bureaus - Establishment of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau on 04.09.2025 - The Central Crime Investigation Range and the Crime Records Division are developing a data system on registered criminals and associates, enabling scientific analysis and methods to apprehend them; implementation is underway - Arresting organized criminals and key network members - Providing legal assistance to expedite court action - Monitoring related assets, cash flows, and criminal proceeds These measures aim to weaken criminals’ finances and dismantle networks long-term.

¶ 13 7) Suppressing drug smuggling and other crimes from prisons - Deploying the Police Special Task Force inside prisons to seize mobile phones and drugs linked to prison-based criminality - For 17 prisons nationwide, the Central Crime Investigation Range deploys officers to conduct questioning, gather intelligence, and seize phones, coordinating online with responsible police officers

¶ 14 8) Use of technology - Use of CCTV and urban surveillance systems - Automatic vehicle number recognition systems - Analysis of phone data, communications, and digital information At Bandaranaike International Airport, facial recognition system data are used to identify suspects’ routes, meeting points, and crime plans via: 1. Image capture 2. Face detection 3. Feature extraction 4. Comparison The Crime Records Division maintains the data system. These measures are currently in force to curb shootings and underworld activity.

¶ 15 (b) (i) The Bandaragama Police Station was established on 01.01.1948, taken over by the Sri Lanka Police on 30.01.1959, and renovations have been carried out. The premises include the administration building, barracks, and other offices. The administration building roof has been fully renovated, and the barracks and sanitation system are being refurbished. There are 58 officers attached, and the current space is adequate.

¶ 16 (ii) Yes. Preliminary activities have commenced to construct a new complete building to replace the current structure.

¶ 17 (iii) The Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) has been appointed as consultant, and architectural plans submitted by CECB have been approved.

¶ 18 (iv) CECB has been instructed to prepare new estimates based on the approved plans; cost estimates are not yet finalized.

¶ 19 (v) Yes. Plans have been prepared for a complete police complex for Bandaragama Police Station, including administration building, barracks, and married officers’ quarters. Basic preparatory work for construction was completed in 2021. However, pursuant to the Cabinet Decision on Public Expenditure Review dated 02.09.2021, commencement of new constructions not yet started was to be temporarily suspended. Further, as per National Budget Circular No. 03/2022 dated 26.04.2022 (item 03(i)), all projects to be initiated and related procurement activities were to be temporarily suspended, and as per National Budget Circular No. 04/2023 dated 26.04.2023, constructions were limited. Accordingly, construction could not be commenced. An Action Plan has now been prepared to recommence, by priority, the temporarily suspended new construction projects. This project is included and is scheduled to be completed within the 2026–2028 medium-term period.

¶ 20 (vi) Not applicable.

¶ 21 (c) Does not arise.