Sri Lanka Police Headquarters has introduced a dedicated WhatsApp number — 070-4755600 — for the public to submit video evidence of reckless and dangerous driving incidents, as the country enters the peak Avurudu travel period.
The hotline operates 24 hours under the supervision of the DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety. Members of the public are encouraged to record and send footage of speeding, unsafe overtaking, riding on one wheel, driving without control, and dangerously crossing railway tracks.
Each submission must include the date, location, and relevant police division alongside the video footage.
Police have specifically requested that the public not submit fabricated or AI-generated videos, noting that action will be taken against those who misuse the system.
The initiative comes as traffic accidents historically spike during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, when millions travel between Colombo and outstation destinations. The SLTB has deployed nearly 1,500 extra buses for the holiday rush, and islandwide security has been stepped up with tri-forces deployed across the country.
Road deaths remain a persistent public health challenge in Sri Lanka, with over 3,000 fatalities recorded annually. The WhatsApp reporting mechanism adds a crowdsourced enforcement layer to complement traditional policing during a period of heightened road usage.
