Post-Avurudu drowning incidents have claimed at least four lives across two locations, with one person still missing.
Update (April 15 evening): Two bodies have been recovered near the Verugal Aru Bridge on the Mahaweli River, where a father and his four sons were swept away while bathing on Avurudu day, April 14. The father and one son survived, but two brothers aged 34 and 35 have been confirmed dead. A search continues for the third missing brother, aged 24.
The family, whose sons worked in Colombo, had returned to their hometown in Serunuwara for the New Year celebrations and went to bathe together during the festive visit.
In a separate incident at Habaraduwa beach in the Southern Province, two men aged 21 and 26 from Katunayake drowned after being swept away while swimming during a field trip. Police confirmed both deaths.
The incidents continue a grim pattern of water-related fatalities during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday period. Earlier in the week, 49 people were killed in road accidents and over 29,000 were admitted to hospitals for accident-related injuries during the festive period.
Authorities have repeatedly warned the public about the dangers of swimming in rivers and rough seas during the holiday season, but drowning incidents remain a persistent concern as families travel to beaches and waterways for recreation.
