If you are trapped
First make the pressure safer. Then complain.
You do not have to solve everything today. Reduce the harm, save proof, and use the right route.
If the pressure feels overwhelming or unsafe, call the National Mental Health Helpline on 1926. You can ask for support before dealing with the debt.
Call 1926confirmedNIMH 1926 helplineAction guide
A practical order of steps
Pause and stop sharing new data
Do not send OTPs, bank passwords, NIC photos, private images, or contact lists. If an app has permissions you do not trust, revoke them.
Save the evidence
Keep screenshots, call logs, WhatsApp messages, payment receipts, loan agreements, and the exact app name or legal entity.
Write a short timeline
Record the loan date, amount received, amount demanded, fees, due date, collector names if shown, and every threat.
Complain to the right place
Use CBSL for regulated financial-service complaints, CAA for consumer-service complaints, Police for threats or online abuse, DPA for personal-data misuse, and Legal Aid for legal advice.
Avoid public posting of private details
Do not publish your NIC, account details, phone contacts, collector phone numbers, or screenshots that expose another person's private data.
Who to contact
Pick the route that matches the problem.
| Office | What it handles | How to reach | Realistic outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBSL Financial Consumer Relations Department | Complaints about financial service providers regulated by the Central Bank. | Hotline 1935, fcrd@cbsl.lk, complaint form to CBSL FCRD. confirmedCBSL FCRD complaint form | Alternative dispute-resolution handling or referral where the complaint falls elsewhere. |
| Consumer Affairs Authority | Consumer complaints about goods and services, including unfair or misleading practices. | Hotline 1977, Consumer Complaint Unit 011-7755481-2-3. confirmedCAA consumer complaints | Inquiry, written communication, or negotiated settlement where the CAA has jurisdiction. |
| Sri Lanka Police or cybercrime units | Threats, extortion, impersonation, defamatory posts, online fraud, and immediate safety risks. | Nearest police station, Police Headquarters 011-2421111, CCID numbers listed in police notices. confirmedSri Lanka Police online-crime warning | Police complaint, investigation, or referral to the relevant unit. |
| Data Protection Authority | Misuse of personal data, contact lists, private photos, or other data-protection concerns. | info@dpa.gov.lk, 011-2697241, 011-2697237. confirmedDPA contact page | A data-protection complaint route or guidance on the Authority's mandate. |
| Legal Aid Commission | Legal advice and assistance for eligible low-income people. | 011-5335329, 011-5335281, 011-2433618. confirmedMinistry of Justice LAC page | Advice, legal-aid screening, or referral through a Legal Aid Centre. |
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Complaint-letter generator
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Complaint-letter generator
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Browse privately if someone watches your phone
- Use the quick-exit button if you need to leave fast.
- Open this guide in private browsing when possible.
- Clear recent tabs or history if it is safe for you to do so.
- Send screenshots to a trusted person or backup account before deleting anything.