A total of 44 individuals have tragically lost their lives in shooting incidents reported since the beginning of this year, police said.
They said there have been over 75 reported shooting incidents during this period.
Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa revealed that the majority of the victims were targeted in revenge attacks carried out by members of organized criminal gangs.
Meanwhile, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon emphasized the importance of citizen support in combating the rising crime rate in the country.
