Sri Lankan authorities arrest over 300 in crackdown on gun violence

Colombo: In a significant crackdown aimed at curbing gun violence and dismantling criminal networks, Sri Lankan authorities arrested over 300 individuals during a coordinated overnight operation in the northern suburbs of Colombo, officials said on Saturday.

"The joint operation, conducted on the night of July 4, involved personnel from the Sri Lanka Police, Special Task Force, Army, and Navy," the Ministry of Public Security said in a press release.

During the operation, over 300 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in drug-related and other crimes, it said.

"These operations are aimed at eliminating the underworld and drug-related crimes,” the release said.

The crackdown comes amid mounting public concern over a surge in gun-related incidents.

Opposition groups claim that since January, more than 40 people have been killed in over 60 shooting incidents. The government attributes the majority of these killings to internal disputes among criminal groups involved in the illicit drug trade.