Negligence & Alcohol Consumption leading causes for Drownings

COLOMBO (News 1st): Negligence and the consumption of alcohol are the leading causes of accidents related to drowning in Sri Lanka, Police pointed out on Saturday (Feb. 6), amidst an alarming increase in the rate of deaths due to drowning.  Most of these drowning incidents are preventable, for example when travelling people must pay attention to children and elders, Police Spokesperson Attorney-at-Law SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st. "DON'T bathe at locations where warning signs are displayed since those warnings are there to prevent unfortunate accidents due to drowning," he sternly advised the people. SSP Thalduwa also urged people NOT to bathe at water sources that are isolated and unfamiliar. According to SSP Nihal Thalduwa, 701 lives were lost due to drowning in 2019, while around the same number of people died in 2020 as well. He said the majority were male victims (568 male victims in 2019 and 570 male victims in 2020) Based on the statistics available, until the 30th of June 2021, a total of 312 people died due to drowning in the 1st half of last year. SSP Thalduwa further noted that around 30 people have died due to drowning so far this year. Responding to a question on what action Police and Local Government Institutions could take in this regard, Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa noted that people should be made aware of this issue and also to set up warning signs at water sources that are risky.