Underworld Gangs Resorting to Local Firearms Manufacturing, Says Senior DIG
13-Jun-2026.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Chandana Kodituwakku, who oversees the Criminal Investigation Division, has stated that organised criminal gangs and underworld groups have begun manufacturing firearms locally due to a shortage of weapons caused by ongoing police seizures.
He made these remarks at a special media briefing held at the Department of Government Information on June 11.
According to the DIG, data indicate that incidents of shootings, contract killings, and organised crimes have come under greater control since 2020. Statistics show a steady decline in organised murders, with 82 recorded in 2022, 82 in 2023, 33 in 2024, and 11 in 2025.
He attributed this reduction largely to the shortage of firearms among organised criminal groups. Police have been conducting continuous operations to seize illegal weapons, including T-56 rifles, AK-47 assault rifles, 9mm pistols, and revolvers commonly used in criminal activities.
Authorities seized 1,459 firearms in 2020, 2,225 in 2021, 1,684 in 2022, 3,022 in 2023, and 2,414 in 2024.
The firearm used in a recent shooting incident in Colombo was subjected to forensic analysis, which revealed that the same weapon had been used in a shooting in Matara two days earlier.
The DIG noted that the shortage of firearms has compelled criminal groups to reuse the same weapons. Investigators have also uncovered evidence of local firearm production. An automatic weapon recovered from the Matampitiya Public Cemetery area in North Colombo was found to be locally manufactured and modelled after the Israeli Mini Uzi submachine gun.
Similarly, 19 locally manufactured revolver-type firearms resembling improvised weapons were recovered from the Dematagoda area.
The DIG further stated that 46 organised criminal groups currently operate in the country under the direction of underworld leaders based overseas. Of these, members of 24 groups have already been arrested.
Several underworld leaders and associates who were extradited to Sri Lanka are being held in separate prisons without outside contact while investigations continue. This has significantly limited communication among criminal networks and contributed to a reduction in organised crime.
He also noted that 20 murders had been recorded during the first six months of this year.
