Govt. to introduce ’emergency app’ soon

The government is to introduce an ‘Emergency app’ through which a person who is caught up in an emergency can inform all relevant institutions concerned using a mobile phone, Digital Infrastructure Development Minister Ajith P. Perera said today.

Minister Perera told a media briefing that the app would comprise contact numbers of various institutions concerned with disasters such as the Police, Fire Department and Ambulance services. “A person will be able to inform relevant institutions through a maximum of two touches on his mobile phone. Another feature of this app is that it will be possible to locate the person caught in an emergency with the use of Google Map.

“I had a discussion with all relevant institutions concerned with emergencies yesterday and we decided to introduce an app. It has been realized that it takes a considerable amount of time for a person to get help in an emergency. We therefore decided on launching an app as a solution to this problem,” the Minister said.

“We also intend to reduce deaths during an emergency and to avoid such eventualities developing into disasters,” he added.

The app is to be launched within a month or two according to the Minister. (Yohan Perera)