Health Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Rajitha Senaratne today telephoned the national mental health helpline '1926'' as he declared open the service this morning. 

The National Mental Health Helpline is operated by trained mental health professionals and will be open for the public throughout the day for mental health care needs including emergency care, treatment guides, mental health information and mental health-related issue.

It fulfils the major need in the mental health sector in Sri Lanka. Health experts described the move as "long overdue measures" in the country's health service. 

Kumarasinghe Sirisena, Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom and the brother of President Maithripala Sirisena, also attended the opening of the helpline.