119 being used for water, power complaints: Police warn over misuse of hotline
– Sri Lanka Police have raised concerns over the misuse of the 119 emergency hotline, which is dedicated to reporting crimes, emergencies, and urgent public safety information.Police said that it has observed that some members of the public are using the hotline for non-emergency matters such as water and electricity issues, billing inquiries, and other customer service–related complaints.
Police Spokesman ASP F. U. Wootler said that the misuse of the 119 service has intensified, even during periods of adverse weather conditions and in the aftermath of such situations.He said that legal action has already been taken against several individuals who abused the hotline by providing false or misleading information.
“The primary purpose of the 119 police service is to protect the civil rights of citizens and to respond swiftly to emergencies, crimes, and critical information. However, we have observed that some individuals are using this emergency line for matters such as water bills, electricity issues, financial problems, and land-related disputes, which do not fall within the scope of emergency police services,” the spokesman said.ASP Wootler warned that such calls obstruct the normal functioning of the emergency hotline and may delay responses to genuine emergencies. He said that the police have identified several telephone numbers involved in repeated misuse and have temporarily terminated access to the 119 service for those numbers.
Sri Lanka Police have urged the public to refrain from misusing the 119 hotline and to use it strictly for genuine emergencies and urgent information. Authorities stressed that responsible use of the service is essential to ensure timely and effective police assistance to those in real need.