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Highest Crime in Sri Lanka

Top 72 cities ranked by highest crime

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All Countries  ·  Sri Lanka

Highest Crime — Sri Lanka

1 Matara 34 3.3 per 1K
2 Panadura 36 3.3 per 1K
3 Nuwara Eliya 29 3.3 per 1K
4 Negombo 36 3.3 per 1K
5 Mulleriyawa 36 3.3 per 1K
6 Mullaittivu 38 3.3 per 1K
7 Moratuwa 36 3.3 per 1K
8 Monaragala 35 3.3 per 1K
9 Minuwangoda 36 3.3 per 1K
10 Peliyagoda 36 3.3 per 1K
11 Matale 29 3.3 per 1K
12 Mannar 38 3.3 per 1K
13 Maharagama 36 3.3 per 1K
14 Kurunegala 32 3.3 per 1K
15 Kuliyapitiya 32 3.3 per 1K
16 Kotikawatta 36 3.3 per 1K
17 Kolonnawa 36 3.3 per 1K
18 Kilinochchi 38 3.3 per 1K
19 Trincomalee 37 3.3 per 1K
20 Wellawaya 35 3.3 per 1K
21 Welisara 36 3.3 per 1K
22 Weligama 34 3.3 per 1K
23 Wattegama 35 3.3 per 1K
24 Wattala 36 3.3 per 1K
25 Vavuniya 38 3.3 per 1K
26 Valvedditturai 38 3.3 per 1K
27 Vakarai 37 3.3 per 1K
28 Keppapularu 38 3.3 per 1K
29 Tangalle 34 3.3 per 1K
30 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte 36 3.3 per 1K
31 Ratnapura 33 3.3 per 1K
32 Puttalam 32 3.3 per 1K
33 Pottuvil 37 3.3 per 1K
34 Polonnaruwa 30 3.3 per 1K
35 Point Pedro 38 3.3 per 1K
36 Pita Kotte 36 3.3 per 1K
37 Beruwala 36 3.3 per 1K
38 Gampaha 36 3.3 per 1K
39 Galle 34 3.3 per 1K
40 Eravur Town 37 3.3 per 1K
41 Devinuwara 34 3.3 per 1K
42 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 36 3.3 per 1K
43 Dambulla 29 3.3 per 1K
44 Colombo 36 3.3 per 1K
45 Chilaw 32 3.3 per 1K
46 Gampola 29 3.3 per 1K
47 Bentota 34 3.3 per 1K
48 Beliatta 34 3.3 per 1K
49 Batticaloa 37 3.3 per 1K
50 Battaramulla South 36 3.3 per 1K
51 Badulla 35 3.3 per 1K
52 Anuradhapura 30 3.3 per 1K
53 Ampara 37 3.3 per 1K
54 Ambalantota 34 3.3 per 1K
55 Jaffna 38 3.3 per 1K
56 Kelaniya 36 3.3 per 1K
57 Kegalle 33 3.3 per 1K
58 Katunayaka 36 3.3 per 1K
59 Kataragama 35 3.3 per 1K
60 Kandy 29 3.3 per 1K
61 Kandana 36 3.3 per 1K
62 Kalutara 36 3.3 per 1K
63 Kalmunai 37 3.3 per 1K
64 Ambalangoda 34 3.3 per 1K
65 Ja Ela 36 3.3 per 1K
66 Horawala Junction 36 3.3 per 1K
67 Horana South 36 3.3 per 1K
68 Homagama 36 3.3 per 1K
69 Hendala 36 3.3 per 1K
70 Hatton 29 3.3 per 1K
71 Hanwella Ihala 36 3.3 per 1K
72 Hambantota 34 3.3 per 1K

Cities with the highest crime rates in Sri Lanka face public safety challenges that affect residents' quality of life and economic development. Matara has 3.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

High crime rates are often linked to economic factors including poverty, unemployment, income inequality, and limited access to education and social services. Addressing crime effectively requires tackling these underlying root causes alongside traditional law enforcement approaches.

Many cities on this list are actively implementing comprehensive safety strategies including community policing, violence intervention programs, youth mentorship, and economic development initiatives aimed at reducing the conditions that contribute to criminal activity.

Did You Know?

  • 1. The violent crime rate in Matara is 0.8x the national average.
  • 2. Crime rates have been declining nationally for decades — even cities on this list have generally seen improvements over time.
  • 3. Violent crime is heavily concentrated in specific neighborhoods — most areas within these cities are considerably safer than the citywide statistics suggest.

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