The Ministry of Defence will open the renewal process for 2027 firearm licences on Tuesday, 1 September, and holders have until 31 December 2026 to complete it.
The window runs for four months. It applies to all individuals and institutions holding firearm licences, the Daily Mirror reported.
The penalty for letting a licence lapse
The ministry warned that possessing a firearm without renewing the relevant licence is an offence under Section 22 of the Firearms Ordinance, and that legal action may be taken against owners who miss the deadline, NewsFirst reported.
Both outlets carried the same warning, and neither reported what penalties Section 22 carries on conviction.
Private security agencies face the same window
The notice covers more than individual gun owners. Private security agencies that fail to renew their registration between 1 September and 31 December 2026 “will face late fees or legal action”, the Daily Mirror reported. The ministry urged all relevant individuals and institutions to complete the renewals within the period to avoid legal consequences.
NewsFirst’s account did not mention the private security limb, and neither outlet said how many agencies are registered or what the late fee is.
A six-monthly inspection now sits inside the renewal
Neither outlet noted that renewal is no longer a paperwork-only exercise. In June the Police ordered every firearm licence holder to present the weapon at the nearest police station every six months for a functionality and serial-number check, on the instruction of the National Security Council.
That directive was issued as part of the 2026 renewal procedure, and the Inspector General of Police instructed Officers-in-Charge to certify compliance before a licence could be renewed. Whether that certification is a precondition for the 2027 cycle opening on Tuesday was not addressed in either report.
What the notice does not say
Neither report gave the renewal fee, the documents required, or where holders should apply — whether at the ministry directly, through police stations, or through divisional secretariats. Neither said whether the process can be completed online.
Neither outlet reported how many firearm licences are currently in force in Sri Lanka, how many lapsed in the previous cycle, or whether the ministry is making any change to eligibility or conditions for 2027. No reason was given for the four-month window.
