Safe Sea Swimming Pools: A Lifesaving Initiative

I want to express my appreciation to the Sri Lankan Army for declaring July 29 as Sea Shore Cleaning Day. This initiative showcases the Army’s commitment to protecting our environment and ensuring the well-being of our citizens. Kudos to the Army for taking the lead in keeping our shores clean and safe for seabathers!  

I would like to suggest an extension of this project that could potentially save even more lives. 

It’s heartbreaking to see people losing their lives, locals and foreigners alike, while sea bathing due to strong currents and other hazards. To mitigate this risk, I propose that the Army embark on a project to build safe sea swimming pools.  E.g. Stone Boulder semicircular enclosures in shallow seawater, with vents for seawater entry and exit up to 8 ft. of water, forming safe sea swimming pools (so that swimmers will not be dragged to high seas by currents). To be built around Sri Lankan shores starting from Mt Lavinia, the most popular sea bathing spot in Colombo.

These safe sea pools would provide a designated and secure area for people to enjoy the ocean without risking their lives. This initiative would not only enhance the safety of beachgoers but also boost tourism and promote a sense of community. It would be a foreign tourist attraction as well.

I believe that this project would be a fitting complement to the Sea Shore Cleaning Day initiative and a lasting tribute to the Army’s commitment to protecting our nation and its people.

Financial support could be arranged from the private sector companies and banks without touching government coffers.

What we need is an honest and transparent leadership to initiate this and manage the funds of this life-saving project till completion with Army manpower.

I look forward to seeing this vision become a reality and applaud the Sri Lankan Army’s efforts in making our shores safer and cleaner.

The writer can be reached at [email protected]

Sumith De Silva Wijeyaratne