An 11-year-old boy has died following a drowning incident at Galle Face in Colombo, Ada Derana reported on Wednesday. The boy was pulled from the sea by bystanders and rushed to hospital, but was pronounced dead on admission. Police said the incident is under investigation.
The death is the latest in a series of drowning fatalities at Galle Face and adjacent stretches of the Colombo coastline over recent weeks. A separate incident in early June saw six children swept off the rocks at Galle Face, with five rescued and one confirmed dead when the original Ada Derana report was later corrected to the higher figures. Sea-safety warnings have been issued repeatedly by the Coast Conservation Department and the Police’s marine division as monsoon-driven swells continue to make the Galle Face stretch hazardous, particularly during late afternoons.
The Colombo Municipal Council and the Police have asked parents and guardians to avoid letting children play in the surf at Galle Face during the southwest monsoon season, citing strong undercurrents and uneven seabed conditions. Police did not release the boy’s identity pending notification of next of kin.
Sources: Ada Derana — 11-year-old boy dies after drowning incident at Galle Face, Colombo.
