Sri Lanka flagEmergency Services Guide

Emergency numbers, response times, hospital systems, and trauma centers in Sri Lanka

• Emergency Number: 119 (universal emergency)

• Ambulance Response: 10-15 minutes urban, 25-40 minutes rural

• Hospital Coverage: Comprehensive public healthcare system with regional hospitals

• Trauma Centers: Major centers in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna

• Language Support: English widely available in emergency services

Emergency Numbers

Universal

119

Police

112

Fire

110

Medical

119

Other Numbers

Coast Guard: 1717
Disaster Management: 117

Response Times

Urban Areas

~12 min

Rural Areas

~35 min

Response times vary significantly between urban and rural areas due to infrastructure and geographic challenges

Hospital System

System Type: public

Comprehensive public healthcare system with government-funded hospitals in all provinces, supplemented by private healthcare facilities

Coverage Rating:7.2/10

Major Trauma Centers

Major trauma centers located in primary urban areas with advanced medical facilities

ColomboKandyJaffna

Specialized Care:

  • Burn centers
  • Cardiac care
  • Stroke units

Language Support

English Available: Yes

Most emergency operators speak English, with translation services available for other languages