Opposition MP Harsha de Silva has publicly challenged the police emergency hotline’s performance by drawing a pointed comparison with the Suwa Seriya 1990 ambulance service, offering specific data to highlight the gap.
In a post on X, de Silva noted that Suwa Seriya handles approximately 5,000 calls per day — more than the 4,500 calls the police 119 line claims to manage — and maintains a 98.9 percent first-ring answer rate with an average nationwide response time of 13 minutes.
By contrast, the police 119 service has drawn complaints of response delays stretching to 180 minutes in some cases.
Minister’s Admission
The challenge follows Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala’s recent admission that he receives daily complaints about delayed responses to 119 calls. Wijepala disclosed that he personally contacted the 118 National Help Desk hotline after a complainant reported that no police action had been taken even three hours after calling 119.
The Minister advised the complainant to formally report the delay, acknowledging widespread frustration with the system.
‘We Will Teach You’
De Silva credited Suwa Seriya’s efficiency to its digital systems, strict protocols, and the attitude of its staff. “We will teach you how to do it if you are humble enough to learn,” the opposition MP said, directing his remarks at the police administration.
Suwa Seriya, Sri Lanka’s free ambulance service, has been operational for over seven years and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most effective public services.
