- Only 33 remain unreturned
- 1,697 civilian firearms originally registered
As the Ministry of Defence (MOD) wraps up its sweeping initiative to recall all civilian firearms for verification and reclassification, officials confirm that only 33 registered weapons remain unreturned, with most attributed to licence holders currently overseas.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Defence Ministry Spokesman Col. Nalin Herath said the Government had previously issued 1,697 licensed firearms, leaving just a handful outstanding.
As such, the recall operation has thus far received 1,664 firearms.
“There are 33 firearms that have yet to be returned to the Ministry of Defence,” Col. Herath stated.
“The delay is largely due to the fact that many of these licence holders are currently overseas. Some also lack immediate access to their weapons, which has made compliance difficult.”
The ministry’s campaign to recall all privately-held firearms, part of a larger initiative to tighten civilian arms control and reassess licensing protocols, was launched earlier this year. It followed concerns about unaccounted weapons, outdated permits, and inconsistencies in firearm registries.
The recall process, which requires gun owners to submit their weapons and licences for physical verification, has been managed through Police stations and divisional secretariats across the country.
Col. Herath also clarified that the final authority for decisions on licence renewals, revocations, or reissuance rested with the Ministry of Defence.
The ministry is yet to confirm whether a grace period will be granted for the remaining 33 weapons. However, previous circulars indicate that non-compliance may result in permanent revocation of firearm licences and potential legal action.
The Defence Ministry’s operation has been described by officials as one of the most comprehensive firearm audits conducted since the end of the civil conflict in 2009. The review comes amid increasing calls for tighter gun regulation and accountability in the wake of several high-profile incidents involving licensed firearms.