June 24, Colombo: Latest survey on small arms revealed that over half of the population (54%) in Sri Lanka thinks that abundance of small arms is a national problem.

This was revealed at a launching ceremony of the survey report on the “Prevalence of Illicit Small Arms in Sri Lanka” held at the Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute today. This is the first comprehensive assessment on the small arms problem in the country.

The survey has been compiled and published by the National Commission against the Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms, which was appointed by the President and chaired by the Secretary of Defense.

The additional secretary to the Ministry of Defense W.W. Gamage was the chief guest for this occasion.

Proliferation of small arms in Sri Lanka has reached crisis proportions and heavily affects the community safety and security, undermines development, and is an obstacle to peace in the country.