Not a week passes in Sri Lanka without news of multiple drowning deaths reported. Yesterday, three holidaymakers were swept away due to strong currents while bathing in seas near the Blue Beach Island in Dikwella, and one of them drowned. According to authorities, drowning is considered the second-highest cause of accidental deaths in the country. In 2021, drowning was attributed as the second leading cause of death in Sri Lanka in terms of accidental deaths, said an official of the Health Ministry. Health authorities have highlighted that the majority of the victims are between the ages of 21 and 60 years. Internationally, the World Health Oragainsation has stated that nearly 60% of all drowning deaths were “below the age of 30 years”.

According to Sri Lanka Life Saving (SLLS), on average, recorded data indicates that approximately 850 people drown each year in the country. The SLLS added that drowning incidents are high both within inland areas as well as in coastal areas, especially during the weekends in the latter. The drowning incidents have also reinforced a mindset against swimming, both inland and on the coast, which has serious community and national implications for an island nation. It has also resulted in a situation where Sri Lankan’s who have some of the best beaches and waterways in the world, are today unable to fully enjoy the island’s coastline despite its natural beauty. According to SLLS the primary causes for these accidents include lack of water safety knowledge, negligence and ignorance, alcohol consumption, absence of safety equipment, and limited public awareness of safe coastal recreational areas. They point out that key initiatives and developments such as awareness campaigns, lifesaving training covering lifesaving techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and basic water rescue, community-based water safety programmes, government and policy engagement, are needed to address the issue. There is also a need for data collection and research which can enable the identification of drowning hotspots and high-risk age groups and demographics. All of this cannot be done by volunteer organisations alone. At present, other than the SLLS, the Sri Lanka Navy, Coast Guard, and the Police Marine division conduct awareness programmes, and deploy life-guards to a limited number of beaches.

However, there has been some improvement in the situation, with more awareness, and deployment of lifeguards at some of the beaches in Sri Lanka. However, there are many beaches and local waterways and reservoirs where there are no lifeguards deployed. Further, few schools and parents encourage their children to learn swimming, which in an urban context is viewed as an expensive affair due to limited numbers of swimming pools and training programmes. The concept of ‘community swimming pools’ hasn’t taken root in Sri Lanka. However, in suburban and rural communities, many children and young people take to the water in rivers, lakes and irrigation canals. Authorities and life savers have advocated for awareness programmes and training to be provided to schoolchildren, who are one demographic which often become victims of drowning. Teaching water safety at the primary-school level can positively impact all age groups over time. Moreover, as young adults are considered the most vulnerable age group, according to drowning prevention experts, making early education and ongoing training essential.

Awareness programmes relating to alcohol and narcotics use and recreational swimming/bathing is a telling need in Sri Lanka. This is because, when the adult base of a holidaying group is intoxicated, the decision-making process and heeding of safety advice goes out of the window. Also important, is to improve resilience by building awareness about first aid, resuscitation – CPR among young people. There is also a need for Sri Lanka to expand its lifeguard services, better resource them and give them due recognition, so that the public begins to trust them and adhere to their warnings.