Key Takeaways
- Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death in Sri Lanka, with nearly 80% of deaths occurring in homes and other waterways, not at beaches.
- A modest initiative, supported by Australian lifesavers, is helping to reduce the toll of drowning in Sri Lanka.
- The initiative, which includes training lifeguards and swimming teachers, has expanded around the country and into coastal communities hit hardest by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
- Annual fatalities from drowning have fallen from over 850 in 2014 to 610 last year, according to government and police figures.
- Communicating the risks of water and challenging social norms and cultural barriers remain significant challenges in preventing drowning in Sri Lanka.
Introduction to Drowning in Sri Lanka
Drowning is a significant problem in Sri Lanka, with it being the second-leading cause of accidental death in the country. For many people, like Upul Rathgama, who grew up inland in Sri Lanka’s crowded capital, drowning once seemed like a distant danger. However, when a small child in the house next door fell into an open toilet and died, Mr. Rathgama realized that drowning can happen anywhere, and it’s not just a problem for people who live near the sea. In fact, nearly 80% of drowning deaths in Sri Lanka occur in homes and other waterways, such as uncovered wells, lakes, canals, and irrigation channels.
The Impact of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami
The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami had a devastating impact on Sri Lanka, with over 30,000 people losing their lives. Mevan Jayawardena, the general manager of Life Saving Victoria and a Sri Lankan by birth, was holidaying in Sri Lanka at the time and stayed for several months to help with rescue and clean-up efforts. He realized that teaching children how to swim could be a lifesaving measure and began running lessons. With support from Surf Life Saving Australia, Sri Lanka Life Saving has been revamped in recent years and includes more training of lifeguards and swimming teachers.
Grassroots Efforts to Prevent Drowning
Under Sri Lanka Life Saving’s new set-up, volunteers now run free swimming lessons for kids after school in many areas. The lessons are designed to be fun and engaging, with children learning to float on their backs, kick, and do freestyle strokes. For many children, like Manuthi and Nethya, the classes have changed how they see the water and have given them confidence in life. The initiative has also expanded to include training for lifeguards, with many young people being trained to respond to emergencies and prevent drownings.
Challenges and Progress
Despite the progress being made, there are still significant challenges to preventing drowning in Sri Lanka. Many people go into the water without understanding the danger, and there are social and cultural barriers that limit access to lifesaving skills. For example, many parents do not allow their daughters to play outside or participate in water activities, which can limit their ability to learn lifesaving skills. However, education and awareness-raising efforts are helping to challenge these norms and promote water safety.
The Importance of Lifesaving Skills
Lifesaving skills are essential for preventing drownings, and education is key to promoting water safety. Primary school teacher Soraya Abeysuriya believes that lifesaving skills should be taught in schools as a requirement, not just as an extracurricular activity. She has seen how social expectations can limit who gains access to these skills, but when she teaches children, the response is immediate and positive. By educating children and promoting water safety, Sri Lanka can reduce the toll of drowning and create a safer and more confident community.
Paying it Forward
For many people, like Upul Susantha, a surf lifesaver for nearly a decade, teaching others is a way of paying it forward. He is proud to see his former students become instructors themselves and is committed to continuing his work in promoting water safety. By sharing his knowledge and skills with others, Mr. Susantha is helping to create a ripple effect of water safety awareness and education that can have a lasting impact on communities in Sri Lanka. As the initiative continues to expand and grow, it is likely that the toll of drowning in Sri Lanka will continue to decrease, and more people will have access to lifesaving skills and education.
