Scroll to Begin
Akash Tharuka (26), Sudath Gomes (36), Chanaka Vimukthi (20), Saveriyan Arul (61), Selvakumar Jude (42), Savindu Tharindu (24), Indunil Saman Kumara (55), Chathuranga Kumara (34) M. Neville ( ), Jagath Ravindra Samarasinghe (35), Kenistan Nato (44), Aruna Vidanagamage (39), Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne (43), Ayoshanta Bopayaarachchi (40), Shashi Kumar (38), Inulima Nethmi Banneheka (9), Siridath Dhammika (61), Thirimadura Nishantha Mendis (45), Pasindu Tharaka (29), Yomesh Nadeeshan (28), Dan Priyasad (39), Kasun Harischandra (35), Mahadura Nalin Wasantha (52), Nissanka Peiris (19), Chamal Abeykoon (40 ), Kalum Tushara (26 ), Iranta Suranjana (22), Upali Kulawardhana (50), Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Upul Amarajith Ratnayake (45), Chaturani (Sandamali) (30), Arun Mendis (23), Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Nimesh Kalum Kumara (23), Suresh Madushan (23), Shantha Mudunkotuwa (46), Ayyappan Prabhu (45), Lalith Kumara Kodagoda (57), Gihan Dulan Perera (21), Dhanushka Udaya Shanta (35), Heshan Salinda Pushpakumara (26), Padmasiri Gardiyawasam (58), Pasindu Heshan (28), Imesha Madhubashni (28), Lasantha Wickramasekara (38), Mirantha Varushavithana (54), Balachandran Pushparaj (43), Roshika Shamen (48), J.H. Wijath (68), H. Pushpa (58), Aminda Pradeep (34), Shriran Kosala de Silva (47), Chandima Sachintha Perera (26)
These are the names of fifty-three individuals, out of sixty, whose lives were taken by gunfire last year. They are not just statistics; behind each name on this list is a human story, abruptly ended by a bullet.
A visual analysis of shooting
incidents in 2025.
90% Male, 10% Female.
Organized crime drives the violence.
Colombo remains the epicenter.
Analyzing the timeline reveals stark spikes in violence during January, February and August.
2023
2024
2025
54
61
60
Data from the last three years shows that 2024 had the highest number of shooting deaths, totaling 61.
Female
10%
Male
90%
Gun violence in 2025 was heavily gendered: 90% of victims were male (54 out of 60). Among the six female victims, two were children younger than ten.
20
17
15
13
13
10
7
5
4
3
2
0
Age
0-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
Fatalities peaked among those aged 21–30, with 17 lives lost. This age group, alongside the 31–40 and 41–50 brackets, accounted for the vast majority of shooting victims.
9
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
9
4
4
4
3
5
9
2
3
5
3
Monthly data for 2025 shows fluctuating levels of violence. Fatalities peaked at nine in January, February, and August, while September recorded the year's lowest toll with just two deaths.
Galkatas
(Locally
manufactured)
Revolver
8
2
Shotgun / 12-bore / 16-bore
5
9mm Pistol / Handgun /
15
T-56
(Assault Rifle)
18
Licensed Firearm (Unspecified type)
1
2
Revolver
8
Galkatas
(Locally
manufactured)
Shotgun / 12-bore / 16-bore
5
9mm Pistol / Handgun /
15
T-56
(Assault Rifle)
18
1
Licensed
Firearm
(Unspecified type)
Military-style weapons dominated the statistics, with the T-56 assault rifle (18) and 9mm pistol (15) responsible for approximately two-thirds (67%) of all shooting deaths.
Kurunegala
Ratnapura
Mannar
Puttalam
Kalutara
Matara
Gampaha
Hambantota
Galle
Colombo
1
Female
Male
1
2
2
3
4
7
11
12
17
The Western Province remains the most affected region. Colombo recorded the highest toll with 17 deaths, followed by Gampaha (12) and Kalutara (11).
Mannar
Hettipola
Marawila
Mirigama
Colombo
Meegoda
Mt. Lavinia
Kahawatta
Hiniduma
Middeniya
Tissamaharama
Ambalangoda
Hungama
1
2
3
Tangalle
Weligama
20 km
Dondra
Mannar
Hettipola
Marawila
Mirigama
Colombo
Meegoda
Kahawatta
Mt. Lavinia
Hiniduma
Tissamaharama
Middeniya
Ambalangoda
Hungama
1
2
3
Tangalle
Weligama
20 km
Dondra
Organised crime and drug trafficking
46
Personal dispute/ Other
14
Organised crime and drug trafficking were the dominant motives, behind 46 of the 60 shooting deaths (over 75%). The remaining incidents were largely personal disputes, with three notable outliers: a self-defence case, the accidental hunting death of a 9-year-old girl in Hettipola, and a fatal shooting in Meerigama over durian theft.
This visual analysis is based on incident reports compiled throughout 2025. Data were cross-referenced with local news media.