Hot line gets seven million calls

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The government's central information hot line 1919 has received over seven million calls during the last five years with a majority of them being information seekers on various aspects related to foreign employment.

"The government's information hot line would complete five years on the 29th of this month. So far it has received over seven million calls with the highest number coming from information seekers on aspects related to migration for employment," Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga revealed. He noted the above joining the opening of Sri Lanka's first migration information centre at Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) premises at Battaramulla.

While commending the establishment of such a facility under the guidance of Minister Dilan Perera, the secretary underscored the need to establish such facilities in all ministries to provide a better service to the public. He said some ministries were not doing enough to provide information for the public.

"In some instances phones do not work and certain websites have not been updated for years. Sometimes we see the former minister's name instead of the current one when accessing a website," he said. He stressed that all public institutions should be committed and dedicated to serve the public to the best of their ability.

President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga also commended the website run by the Defence Ministry. He said that during Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's tenure the website had made impressive strides. "It provided upto date information to the public during the conflict period and it continues to do the same at present as well," he added.