A high-level consultative meeting at the Parliament Complex on Wednesday began formulating a national mechanism for drowning prevention and lifesaving in Sri Lanka, aimed at building a coordinated multi-sector framework to reduce water-related deaths.
The discussion was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madhura Senevirathna, and Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Dinindu Saman Hennayake.
Mr. Jayasekara said drowning incidents were not merely a social issue but also a matter of public safety and national security, warning that the absence of a structured safety mechanism posed risks to national interests and to the safety of both local and foreign visitors. Strengthening water safety measures, he added, was important for the country’s tourism industry and Sri Lanka’s international image.
Deputy Minister Senevirathna proposed integrating water safety awareness into the national school curriculum to build long-term public preparedness. Deputy Minister Hennayake highlighted the role youth could play in lifesaving efforts, proposing specialised training programmes to create a skilled volunteer network supporting professional rescue services.
The meeting drew senior officials and experts from the Sri Lanka Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Disaster Management Centre, Civil Security Department, Police and the Sri Lanka Life Saving Association, alongside representatives of the Ministries of Defence, Health, Youth Affairs and Sports, Education and Tourism.
The push for an institutional framework follows a recurring pattern of fatal drownings during the Avurudu and school-holiday seasons at reservoirs, rivers and beaches, where the absence of trained lifeguards and warning systems has exposed visitors to repeated risk.
Source: Newswire.
