By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   
In the first two and a half months of 2024, Sri Lanka has seen a troubling surge in shooting incidents with 30 reported cases resulting in 21 fatalities and 14 injuries.   Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that organized crime gangs were responsible for 17 of these shooting incidents while personal disputes accounted for the remaining 13 incidents.   The most recent tragedies unfolded in the Southern Province on Monday night where two separate shootings in Pitigala and Ambalangoda claimed four lives and left at least six others injured. 

• Police suspect that these shootings may have been carried out by a group of organized criminals on the basis of contracts

In Pitigala, a shooting incident near a shop resulted in one casualty and three injuries on Monday with a 26-year-old succumbing to his wounds at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital yesterday.   
It was revealed that the shooting allegedly aimed at the shop owner left bystanders caught in the crossfire.   
Police said the shop owner was not injured as he ran away at the time of shooting.   
Meanwhile, in Ambalangoda, a similar shooting inside a shop led to two fatalities and three injuries.   
Police said the shooting was aimed at a businessman who worked in the relevant shop.   
The man and the 21-year-old son of the store owner were killed in the shooting.   
Investigations revealed that T-56 firearms were used for both the shootings. Police suspect that both the shootings were carried out by the same shooters.   
It was reported that within half an hour of the shooting in Pitigala, the shooting in Ambalangoda had also taken place. The police suspect that these shootings may have been carried out by a group of organized criminals on the basis of contracts.