Thirty eight people including 16 school children have died by drowning while bathing and swimming in unsafe waterways and deep village tanks countrywide during this year.
Consequently, the Education Ministry has requested all schools heads in a Circular that when school educational and field trips are organised, students should not be allowed to bathe in unsafe rivers, village tanks or reservoirs under any circumstances by teachers responsible for the respective students.
"During the past three years, about 168 persons in Sri Lanka have died by drowning while bathing and hence, much care on students has to be taken by school authorities," the Circular has emphasized. During the forthcoming New Year season, both school teachers and parents should be on alert of such tragedies,school heads have been instructed by the Education Ministry in the Circular.