Sri Lanka has no single emergency number, so it pays to save a short list before you land. The numbers below are national, work from any phone inside the country and are the ones the Sri Lanka Police and the tourism authority publish. Save them in your phone now, because mobile signal in the hills and on the east coast can be patchy once something goes wrong.
The numbers to save
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police emergency | 119 | National police hotline, answers 24 hours |
| Ambulance (Suwa Seriya) | 1990 | Free, island-wide ambulance service |
| Fire and rescue | 110 | Fire and Rescue Service |
| Tourism hotline | 1912 | SLTDA, 24 hours, connects to the Tourist Police |
| Disaster Management Centre | 117 | Floods, landslides, cyclone warnings |
| Government information | 1919 | Not an emergency line, but useful for official help |
Do not rely on 112 or 911. They are the numbers many travellers reflexively dial and neither is the standard route to help here. Sri Lanka Police has also warned that 119 is misused for water, electricity and land disputes, so keep the line for genuine emergencies.
We have left out Colombo landlines because published lists conflict. If you need a specific station, ask your hotel to call it.
Police and the Tourist Police
For a crime in progress, an assault or a serious road accident, call 119. For a theft, scam or dispute, go to the nearest police station in person and ask for a written complaint (a “police entry”), which your insurer will want. The Tourist Police Division sits at 80 Galle Road, Colombo 3, and handles complaints from visitors about harassment, overcharging and fraud. The 1912 hotline is the easiest way to reach it, and operators generally speak English.
Common issues we hear about are tuk-tuk overcharging, gem-shop pressure and unlicensed guides. Most are resolved by walking away calmly, but 1912 is worth ringing if a driver refuses to let you out or a seller becomes aggressive.
Ambulance and hospitals
The 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance launched in 2016 with Indian government funding and now covers the island. It is free and crews are trained paramedics, but it normally delivers you to the nearest government hospital. That is fine for stabilising a serious injury. For anything non-critical, many travellers prefer a private hospital.
In Colombo the main internationally used private hospitals are Lanka Hospitals (Colombo 5) and Nawaloka Hospital (Colombo 2). Outside the capital, Kandy and Galle have district general hospitals with basic emergency care, and serious cases are often moved to Colombo. Private hospitals usually ask for a deposit or card guarantee, so keep your insurance policy number and the insurer’s 24-hour assistance line to hand. Our health and safety guide lists vaccinations, dengue risk and rip currents.
Traffic is the biggest danger. If you hire a vehicle, our notes on hiring a driver in Sri Lanka explain what to ask before you set off.
Beach, hiking and wildlife emergencies
Rip currents on the south and west coasts cause several tourist drownings each year, especially during the southwest monsoon from May to October. Swim only where flags or lifeguards are present. Many beaches have no lifeguard at all, so in a water emergency shout for local help first, then call 1990 and 119.
On hikes such as Horton Plains or Adam’s Peak, mobile coverage is unreliable. Tell your guesthouse your route and return time. In national parks, rangers carry radios and are the fastest route to help. For elephants, snakes or a bee swarm, move away calmly, and get any snakebite assessed at a hospital even if you feel fine.
Natural disasters
Floods and landslides hit the wet zone and hill country most often during the southwest monsoon (May to September) and the northeast monsoon (October to January). The Disaster Management Centre on 117 issues warnings, and local news gives road closures. If a warning is issued, leave low-lying guesthouses early rather than waiting for the road to flood. Our Sri Lanka monsoon season guide shows which coast is safe in which month.
Embassies and lost documents
Embassies are not first responders. They help after the emergency is dealt with, by issuing replacement travel documents and pointing you to doctors and lawyers. Our embassies and consulates guide lists the main missions in Colombo and the steps after losing a passport.
Travel insurance
Treat insurance as part of your emergency plan. Check that your policy covers emergency evacuation, motorbike or tuk-tuk riding if you plan it, and adventure activities such as surfing, diving or white-water rafting. Save the insurer’s 24-hour number next to the local ones, and ask the hospital to contact them before major treatment so they can guarantee payment. You can compare travel insurance for Sri Lanka before you book, and read our travel insurance guide for what to look for.
A simple emergency checklist
- Move to safety and call the right number: 119, 1990 or 110.
- Give your location in plain words, with the nearest town, landmark or hotel name.
- Keep your passport copy, insurance number and a local contact written down, in case your phone battery dies.
- Keep every receipt and the police entry for claims.
- Contact your insurer and, if needed, your embassy.
Numbers and services can change, so check the Sri Lanka Police and SLTDA websites if something fails to connect. Prices and policies mentioned here are as of 2026.