“Victims ignored my advice” – youth

Residents of Chilaw, where five people including two children drowned while bathing in the Deduru Oya, have called upon the police and local government authorities to put up proper warning signs to prevent outsiders from exposing themselves to the danger of drowning in the river.

A youth from the area said the victims had ignored his warning that it was too dangerous to get into the river near the bridge as there were deep pits left by illegal sand miners. He said that over the past several years, more than ten people had died while bathing there.

According to the Police, the victims were part of a group of about ten people from Kiribathgoda. Four of them drowned on the spot, while another died after being admitted to hospital.

The deceased were identified as residents of Makola and Grandpass, aged 12, 16, 19, and 27.