Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that steps had been taken to bring back criminals operating from overseas, with special police teams conducting operations in coordination with international police in countries where the suspects are hiding.

He said 17 Special Task Force (STF) teams had also been deployed across the country to crack down on organised crime and drug trafficking. The Minister said INTERPOL red notices had been issued for 236 Sri Lankans, including 94 individuals identified as organized criminals and drug traffickers.Of these, 30 red notices had been issued in connection with murder cases, while the others were linked to drug trafficking and serious offences, including human trafficking, money laundering, the acquisition of illicit assets, and aiding and abetting crimes.Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Kavinda Jayawardane, the Minister said 134 murders had been recorded between 2020 and 2026.He said the number of murders had declined from 29 in 2025 to 18 so far in 2026, attributing the reduction to intensified operations targeting organized criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks.

According to the figures presented by the Minister, two murders were recorded in 2020, four in 2021, 23 in 2022, 16 in 2023, 42 in 2024, 29 in 2025 and 18 so far this year.The Minister said the increase in shooting incidents was largely attributable to conflicts between organised criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks.