The 119 Police Emergency Hotline is a specialised service of the Sri Lanka Police, established with the primary objective of providing rapid police assistance during urgent and dangerous situations involving crime or unlawful activities, Acting Police Spokesperson F.U. Wootler said.

Speaking to the media, he noted that the 119 service receives between 3,000 to 4,000 calls daily. However, it has been observed that some individuals are misusing the service in a highly inappropriate manner.

“Almost all of these misuse cases involve false or misleading calls. In particular, we have received calls related to land disputes, financial issues, bribery cases, and even other consumer-related matters through this emergency line,” he stated.

Wootler warned that such non-essential calls cause delays in police responses to critical, time-sensitive emergencies, which could jeopardise public safety.

He further said that individuals who misuse the 119 service have already been identified, and legal action is being taken against them under provisions of the Sri Lankan Penal Code. In addition to prosecution, the phone numbers of such callers are being temporarily blocked, and they may be permanently denied access to the 119 service in future.

He urged the public to act responsibly and to use this essential emergency service wisely so that it remains effective and available for all citizens in genuine need.