Do NOT misuse 118/ 119 Emergency Hotlines: Police

COLOMBO (News 1st): Certain individuals are attempting to misuse the emergency hotlines introduced for the convenience of the general public to provide vital information to the respective authorities, Sri Lanka Police have observed. "Especially, the 119, 118, and 1997 emergency hotlines have been introduced for the general public to provide vital information to Sri Lanka Police. Specifically, the 119 centre is introduced to provide information about crimes, accidents, and disaster situations. However, it has been observed that various parties from time to time misuse these emergency numbers," Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana told News 1st on Tuesday (Apr. 20). According to the Deputy Police Chief, on the 18th of April 2021, the 119 emergency centre received a call where the informant had provided information regarding a group of people attempting to carry out an attack on the Dankotuwa Police Station with explosives. Thereby, the Dankotuwa Police was immediately informed of the matter by the officers attached to the 119 emergency centre; upon receiving information on the possible attack, the Dankotuwa Police had launched investigations into the matter. "It was later revealed that the provided information was bogus and false. Accordingly, two female suspects who are residents of Dankotuwa were arrested in connection with the incident," DIG Ajith Rohana noted. According to Police, one of the suspects aged 25-year had provided false information to the 119 emergency centre by using her sister's phone. The duo were produced at the Marawila Magistrate's Court on charges of providing false information via the 119 emergency hotline. The 1st suspect who made the call to the 119 centre was remanded until the 28th of April 2021 and the 2nd suspect was granted bail on certain conditions, Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana noted. Dankotuwa Police are conducting further investigations. "These emergency numbers have been introduced to provide correct information and if you provide false information you will be charged in the court of law," the Deputy Police Chief sternly advised the general public.