Eagle makes Arrangements for this Year's Poson Safety Campaign in Anuradhapura
- 25 May, 2004
For the 11th consecutive year, Eagle Insurance Company will conduct the Poson Safety Campaign with the support of Sri Lanka Police, Navy and the Life Saving Association by utilizing 365 professional life guards. This campaign aims at safeguarding the lives of devotees, from drowning when bathing in nearby reservoirs. In addition Eagle will also launch a multi-media public awareness campaign that would highlight the need for people to comply with basic safety rules.
Taking into consideration the peaceful atmosphere currently prevailing in the country, Eagle expects approximately 1 million pilgrims to visit Anuradhapura and participate in this year’s Poson religious activities. Thus Eagle will initiate a massive public awareness campaign prior to and throughout Poson via print, radio and television media with the intention of advising people against using unsuitable places to have a bath and highlighting the need for people to act with extra caution when bathing in tanks.
Eagle has already put up large billboards and warning signboards indicating unsafe-spots that should be avoided for bathing while guiding pilgrims to safer bathing areas. Leaflets, in both text and picture-form, will disseminate practical information on maintaining proper safety procedures; and about 100,000 fact-sheets will be distributed near major tanks and at official-monitoring terminals at selected locations before entering Anuradhapura. Banners will be displayed at locations that provide a broad view, drawing attention to the dangers of bathing at unprotected places.
In addition to the demonstrations on rescue maneuvers and lifesaving tactics that will be conducted by professional lifeguards during the campaign period, they will also be equipped to provide required advice and information to those wishing to obtain it.
In 1993, Eagle in collaboration with the Life Saving Association, police department and the navy initiated this Poson safety campaign, which has continued since. This project has helped in substantially reducing the rate of drowning victims during the Poson season. Through the committed efforts of Eagle, this campaign has so far helped rescue more than a hundred pilgrims as of 2003. Last year, the campaign was hailed as a remarkable success, where 15 pilgrims were rescued. Two persons who had taken liquor and did not heed to the safety advice given, were drowned.
