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Safety campaign at Anuradhapura

For the 10th consecutive year, Eagle Insurance will conduct the Poson Safety Campaign with the support of the Life Saving Association by utilizing the services of over 300 professional lifeguards. This project aims at safeguarding the lives of devotees, who make their way to Anuradhapura during the Poson pilgrimage, 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.

As a result of the ongoing peace process and relatively peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country, Eagle expects approximately 1.5 million pilgrims to visit Anuradhapura and participate in this year's Poson ceremony. Taking this into consideration, 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. The campaign will be extended into television medium this year, through knowledge-enhancing TV commercials and safety snippets on selected channels.

This year over 300 well-trained lifeguards will be deployed near reservoirs in Anuradhapura. Eagle has already put up large billboards and warning signboards indicating unsafe spots that should be avoided for bathing while also guiding pilgrims to safer bathing areas. Leaflets will disseminate information on maintaining proper safety procedures; and about 100,000 fact-sheets will be distributed near major tanks and also 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 manoeuvres and lifesaving tactics that will be conducted by professional lifeguards during the campaign period, they will also be equipped to provide advice and information to those wishing to obtain it.

In 1993, Eagle in collaboration with the Life Saving Association, the 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 1993. Last year, the campaign was hailed as a remarkable success, where seven pilgrims were rescued.

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