Organised Crime Is Prevalent in Seven Police Divisions Including Colombo North; Minister Ananda Wijepala

10-Nov-2025

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Organised criminal activity is most prevalent in the police divisions of Colombo North, Nugegoda, Gampaha, Elpitiya, Tangalle, Galle, and Matara, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala stated.

He was responding to questions raised by National People’s Power MP for Jaffna District, Rajeevan Jayachandramurthy, during oral questions in Parliament on Saturday regarding organised criminal operations.

The MP asked about the total number of gang-related violent incidents reported to Sri Lanka Police from 2020 to date, the number of cases filed under the Penal Code or under counter-terrorism and public security laws, and the measures taken to ensure equal enforcement of law across provinces, including identification of high-risk areas.

Minister Wijepala responded:

“Instructions and guidelines to ensure uniform enforcement of law and order across the country have been issued to police stations under the Police Orders Act. Organised criminal groups are most active in the Southern and Western Provinces, particularly in Colombo North, Nugegoda, Gampaha, Elpitiya, Tangalle, Galle, and Matara.

Nevertheless, to curb crime nationwide, the Criminal Investigation Department, intelligence units, special search operations, patrols, and enhanced surveillance are being carried out to prevent suspects from escaping.”