Over 5,000 T-56 Bullets Found in Sri Lankan Reservoir

COLOMBO (News 1st); Police in Galenbindunuwewa have successfully recovered 5,036 rounds of T-56 ammunition from the Getalawa Wewa.

The discovery was made on Wednesday (13)afternoon when a man, who had gone to a nearby paddy field, approached the reservoir to wash his feet. 

While at the water’s edge, he noticed several submerged bullets.

He had immediately informed the police.

Following the report, OIC W.M.M.D.N. Chathuranga Muramudali of the Galenbindunuwewa Police Station, along with a team of officers, launched an investigation.

During the search, police recovered 5,038 various types of ammunition from a single location within the reservoir.

The recovered stock is currently in police custody, and several special police teams have been deployed to continue the search in the area.

Further investigations are being carried out under the special instructions of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the North Central Province, Buddhika Siriwardena, and under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police for the Kebithigollewa Division, Prasanna Brahmanage, with direct involvement from OIC Chathuranga Muramudali.

On the 23rd of July 2025, three youths who had visited the Huruluwewa dock in Galenbindunuwewa for a swim discovered several live bullets near a rocky area close to the dock.

After informing the Galenbindunuwewa Police, officers inspected the site and recovered:

10 rounds of T-56 ammunition
18 rounds of LMG ammunition
1 pin from a hand grenade
1 base section of a T-56 magazine
1 key used to open ammunition boxes

In Lindamullagewatta, Walipenna, Kalutara, police recovered 45 live bullets hidden near a bush.

According to police, the ammunition was discovered by two children aged 8 and 13.

After informing their parents, the parents alerted the Walipenna Police, who arrived at the scene and took custody of the ammunition stock.