Terrorism in Sri Lanka

The risk of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka over the past years can be classified as almost insignificant. Compared to other countries here are only quite a few incedents. Over the past 5 years a total number of 81 terrorist incidents has been recorded, in which 6 people have been killed and 112 injured.

In 2 incedents a total of 2 people have been kidnapped or taken as hostage.

› Topic page: Terrorism

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Most frequent attack targets in Sri Lanka

(2013 to 2017)

Target	Attacks	Killed	Injured	Hostages
Private citizens	30	3	54	1
Business	20	0	6	0
Religious institutions	12	0	13	1
Journalists & Media	8	0	7	0
Government	4	1	7	0
Political parties	2	2	12	0
Educational institution	2	0	12	0
Military	1	0	1	0
Transportation	1	0	1	0
Police	1	0	0	0

Most affected regions

(2013 to 2017)

Region	Attacks	Killed	Injured	Hostages
Western	24	5	85	2
Eastern	18	0	0	0
Northern	16	1	6	0
Southern	11	0	1	0
Central	5	0	7	0
North Western	4	0	1	0
Sabaragamuwa	2	0	12	0
North Central	1	0	0	0

Terrorist organisations in Sri Lanka

Organisation	Attacks	Killed	Injured
Anti-Muslim extremists	30	0	1
Bodu Bala Sena	7	3	52
Sinhale Jathika Balamuluwa	1	0	0

All information sourced from the "National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism" (START) and its Global Terrorism Database. An act of terrorism is concidered every incident which is aimed at attaining a political, economic, religious, or social goal, but not for pure profit motives. In addition these incidents must not be legitimized by warfare activities, listet in the Geneva Conventions of 1949.