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Authorities at sea while drowning claims more young lives
Water safety education should be made a priority in schools, a life saving official has pointed out as drowning continues to claim more young lives especially in inland waters.On July 6, 14 year-old Sandan Praveen and 15 year-old Selvathamby Selvarani from Eravur, were among a group of friends who were blissfully collecting conch shells near Lagoon Island close to Palaminmadu lighthouse in Batticaloa, unaware of the strong currents swirling close by.
Suddenly amidst pathetic cries for help the two children were swept away while their friends struggled frantically to save them in vain. Within minutes the bodies of Sandan and Selvarani were swallowed up by the lagoon waters.
The rest of the friends, four boys and a girl were rushed to Batticaloa hospital where they were treated for excess intake of saline water while attempting to save the duo.
This tragedy occurred just days after five-year-old Sundaralingam Viranjan from Kalavanchchikudi drowned while bathing in the Kumbukkan Oya near Panama area.
Two weeks ago, two students from Nuwara Eliya drowned while bathing with friends in the Ragala canal in Senarathpura, Nuwara Eliya. The victims 16 year-old W. Gihan and 14 year-old S. Dilshan were Grade 8 and Grade 11 students of Senarathpura Vidyalaya.
In a tragedy at sea, 15 year-old Abdul Majeed from Akkaraipattu drowned while bathing in the sea near the Badurnagar coast in Akkaraipattu, while a 10 year-old girl from the Padukka area drowned after falling into a canal.
More than 1,100 deaths by drowning are reported annually. The statistics include deaths at sea and in inland waterways such as rivers, tanks, waterfalls, streams and wells.
Senior instructor and secretary general of the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka (LSASL), Asanka Nanayakkara told the Sunday Times that death by drowning was the second leading cause of death in the country.
He said since Sri Lanka is a tropical country with warm weather throughout the year and with not many marine predators inhabiting its sea and other waterways people get into the water without fear. But he emphasised that this kind of false security made people ignore other risks such as dangerous currents, and the depth of the water.
Mr. Nanayakkara also added that incidents to boys drowning was higher due to their natural risk-taking behaviour.
He said learning to swim and water safety education especially among students could save many from drowning while preparing them for safe aquatic recreational activities.
“Learning floating techniques is immensely useful to save drowning lives,” Mr. Nanayakkara said, adding that teachers too should be taught how to save lives in an emergency by using commonly available items such as a plastic bottle, pair of rubber slippers, plastic bag etc.
“The Education Ministry has shown only little interest in promoting swimming and water safety education. The first cause of death among children is road accidents, and at present schools have programmes on road safety but there is no such awareness regarding the second cause of death, which is drowning,” Mr. Nanayakkara said.
He said Education Ministry officials were not even aware of the existing number of school-based swimming pools.
“There is a need to increase school-based survival floating workshops and water safety education islandwide,” he said, adding that local government authorities too had a role to play in identifying unsafe bathing spots in their respective areas and creating awareness among the people.