Significant number of swimming pools in Sri Lanka unsafe: Health Ministry
– A significant number of swimming pools in Sri Lanka are not adequately safe, with the absence of properly trained lifeguards identified as a major concern, a senior Health Ministry specialist said.
Specialist Dr. Samitha Siritunga, Chief Specialist of the Accident Prevention Division of the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, said every swimming pool should have lifeguards to ensure the safety of swimmers.
He stressed that appropriate safety measures should be in place at swimming pools to prevent accidents and drowning incidents.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Ministry of Education said that although there are 10,467 schools in Sri Lanka, only 66 schools currently have swimming pools.They also pointed out that the lack of proper regulation of swimming pools, or inadequate implementation of existing regulations, remains a major problem.The officials said steps should be taken to strengthen safety standards and regulatory mechanisms governing swimming pools.The assurance regarding the safety of swimming pools was also signed by Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media.