Police launch mobile app with SOS feature for faster emergency response

Sri Lanka Police has introduced a new mobile application featuring an SOS emergency button designed to alert police quickly when a person is in danger, Police Spokesman F.U. Wootler said.

Explaining the feature, Wootler said users can activate the SOS button by pressing and holding it for the required period. The system will then transmit the user’s location to relevant police officers in the area where the person is located.

He said the feature is intended to provide a faster means of seeking police assistance than making a conventional telephone call during an emergency.

Wootler cited the example of a child or young person facing an attempted abduction, assault or other threat while returning home from school, saying the SOS facility could be used to alert police immediately.

The Sri Lanka Police mobile app can be registered using a National Identity Card, while children without an NIC can register using a parent’s identification details. Foreign nationals can register using their passports.

The app also allows users to directly submit information to specialised police units dealing with crime, traffic offences, child and women protection, cyber and online fraud, narcotics and assistance to foreign tourists.

Other features include emergency notifications, access to existing police services and a chatbot to help users obtain information and resolve queries.

Police warned that the emergency facility must not be misused. Wootler said legal action has been initiated against 91 people over the misuse of the 119 police emergency hotline in 2025.

The application was developed through a collaboration involving the Sri Lanka Police Information Technology Division, Police Media Division and a private technology partner, according to the spokesman. (Newswire)

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