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Sri Lanka — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Sri Lanka is 300,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Sri Lanka is 1.52 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Sri Lanka ranked at No. 1021

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Sri Lanka ranked at No. 1332

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Number of Registered Firearms

The number of registered guns in Sri Lanka is reported to be 30,5001

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Rate of Registered Firearms per 100 Population

The rate of registered firearms per 100 people in Sri Lanka is 0.153

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Sri Lanka are reported to have 297,3504 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Sri Lanka are reported to have 86,2405 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Sri Lanka, annual homicides by any means total

2004: 1,3776
2003: 1,310
1997: 1,8517
1996: 1,775
1995: 1,614

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Sri Lanka, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2008: 7.408
2007: 8.40
2006: 10.40
2005: 6.30
2004: 6.816
2003: 6.42
1997: 9.987
1996: 9.70
1995: 8.91

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Number of Gun Homicides

ChartIn Sri Lanka, annual firearm homicides total

2004: 2916
2003: 174
1997: 5627
1996: 516
1995: 449

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Sri Lanka, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

2004: 1.446
2003: 0.85
1997: 3.037
1996: 2.82
1995: 2.48

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Sri Lanka is reported to be US$1059 (2009)

Import Control

In Sri Lanka, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 10

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Sri Lanka is reported to be US$3,2569 (2009)

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Sri Lanka is reported to be US$28011

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Sri Lanka, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law10 12

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Sri Lanka, only licensed gun owners13 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Licensing Records

In Sri Lanka, authorities maintain a record14 of individual civilians licensed to acquire, possess, sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Sri Lanka, the law requires15 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In Sri Lanka, licensed gun makers are required16 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Sri Lanka, State agencies are required17 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Sri Lanka, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law17 13

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Firearm Tracing

In Sri Lanka, state authorities carry out15 12 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

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Destruction and Disposal Policy

In Sri Lanka, it is state policy18 to destroy surplus, collected and seized firearms rather than return them to the secondary arms market

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Sri Lanka voted to begin19 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed20 by Sri Lanka

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Sri Lanka committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects21

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Sri Lanka has submitted one or more national reports22 12 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Sri Lanka, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated23 12

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Sri Lanka, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated23 12

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Sri Lanka submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is apparent23 12

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated12 by Sri Lanka to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided12 to Sri Lanka by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Sri Lanka has not declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Sri Lanka has been a Member State of the United Nations since 195524

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list25 Sri Lanka as a Participating State
Last Updated on 18 March 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

GunPolicy.org.2011.‘Calculated Rates – Sri Lanka.’ Historical Population Data – USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,17 March. (Q4282)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2006.‘Reported Overall Homicide Numbers and Rates per 100,000 Population for 64 Countries, 2003-04.’ Ninth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2003 – 2004).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q9)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2001.‘Sri Lanka: Total Recorded Intentional Homicides (Completed) and Total Recorded Intentional Homicides Committed With a Firearm.’ Sixth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1995-1997.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,27 June. (Q1347)Full Citation

8.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘South Asia, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3815)Full Citation

9.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

10.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

11.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

12.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

13.

Sri Lanka.2008.‘Marking of Guns.’ National Report of Sri Lanka on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations,8 May. (Q4681)Full Citation

14.

Sri Lanka.2008.‘Register for Guns.’ National Report of Sri Lanka on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations,8 May. (Q4682)Full Citation

15.

Sri Lanka.2008.‘Marking, Record Keeping and Tracing.’ National Report of Sri Lanka on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations,8 May. (Q4683)Full Citation

16.

Sri Lanka.2008.‘Production.’ National Report of Sri Lanka on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations,8 May. (Q4680)Full Citation

17.

Sri Lanka.2008.‘International Tracing Instrument (ITI).’ National Report of Sri Lanka on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations,8 May. (Q4679)Full Citation

18.

UNDPI.2006.‘Major Review at United Nations to Assess Progress Made, Actions Needed to Further Stem Illegal Small Arms Trade.’ Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, Peace and Security Section.New York:United Nations,20 June. (Q5075)Full Citation

19.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

20.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

21.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

22.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

23.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

24.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

25.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation