The Police Life Saving Division reports that 230 individuals have lost their lives due to drowning across Sri Lanka so far this year.
The majority of the victims are young people.
While tragedy struck many families, there was also hope — 195 lives were saved from drowning incidents during the same period, including 135 Sri Lankan nationals and 60 foreign individuals, thanks to timely interventions and rescue efforts.
However, the nation was shaken once again yesterday when five young men from Kiribathgoda-Makola tragically drowned while bathing in the Deduru Oya in Halawatha.
The group had reportedly arrived in the area for a leisure trip. Among the deceased were two children under the age of 16.
Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when engaging in recreational activities near water bodies, especially during school holidays and festive seasons when such outings are common.
