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Selfie thrill-seekers don’t care, locals say as more die
“They never listen to us,” lamented Shanthi, a woman who works on Rumassala Jungle Beach, near Unawatuna, where this week more youths died trying to take selfies against the background of sea crashing around rocks.
Warnings that have been put up
Four young men went to Rumassala on Tuesday, Esala Poya, for a day out – only two came back home.
Three of the youths decided to climb onto the rocks rising from the beach; as they posed there, taking photographs, a sudden rough wave swept them into the sea.
One of the youths held fast onto a rock and escaped death but the other two disappeared beneath the waves.
After two days, the body of 21-year-old Thilanga Malin was found by navy divers and the following day 20-year-old Kavinda Prasad’s body was also found. Both were from the village of Ginimallagaha in Baddegama.
On Poya Day last month, five others taking selfies were washed into the sea from the same spot. Two of them drowned – Charuni Priyanka, a young girl from Maharagama, and Bernard Ishara, a soldier from Unawatuna.
“It’s unfortunate that four youths became victims in one month,” said R.H. Eman a local resident. “Their negligence was the main reason for their deaths. The authorities should take steps to educate the people on the danger of this place.”
A.W. Shanthi, who runs a small business on Rumassala Jungle Beach, said there were plenty of warnings. “We tell all those who come here to be vigilant since it is ‘warakan’ – rough season. But they never listen to us. We got together and put up some boards warning them. What they do is they remove the boards and use them as tables for their ‘bites’ and alcohol.
“The government authorities put up some warning boards but they too were removed by visitors.”
The rock formation at Rumassala 5.5km from Galle, is fabled as a site of the Ramayana, and scientists believe it has a significant gravitational anomaly. It extends to form the natural rock harbour at Galle.
The world-famous Buona Vista corals at Rumasalla also draw visitors. Due to its natural beauty and the importance of its biodiversity, Rumassala was declared a reserve in 2003.
The site of the tragedy
The scenic Rumassala