World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Man arrested with four homemade guns in Dematagoda raid
Police have apprehended a 23-year-old suspect in connection with the illegal possession of four locally manufactured firearms during an operation in the Dematagoda area. The arrest marks another enforcement action against unlicensed weapons trafficking in the Western Province.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The suspect was taken into custody following a coordinated police raid conducted in Dematagoda on Wednesday. Officers recovered four locally made firearms from the individual's possession, according to a Police Media Spokesperson statement. The operation was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to curtail the circulation of illegally manufactured weapons in residential areas across the district.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the circumstances of the arrest or the intended use of the weapons. The suspect is expected to be produced before a magistrate to face charges related to illegal firearm possession, which carries serious penalties under Sri Lankan law.
The seizure adds to a continuing pattern of police operations targeting unlicensed weapons. Homemade firearms remain a persistent challenge for law enforcement, particularly in urban centers where manufacturing networks have been identified by authorities. The Police Department has intensified checks in high-risk areas as part of a broader public safety initiative.
Investigations into the source of the weapons and potential links to organized criminal networks are ongoing, police said. The case remains under active investigation.