Life Saving Victoria partners with Sri Lanka Life Saving on drowning prevention and water safety
February 9, 2018
A group of 13 female members of the tourism industry, business community, media and those within Sri Lanka Life Saving are currently in Australia on a two week Fellowship under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Australia Awards to take part in a two week programme. The programme is divided into two streams: a technical stream to empower female leaders to develop skills and knowledge in water safety where the Fellows will participate in a range of lifesaving and water safety skills workshops to gain qualifications that meet international standards, and a management stream, for representatives from tourism operators and media who play an integral part in water safety development and awareness, that is aimed at using water related assets for tourism development.
The Sri Lanka High Commission hosted the visiting delegation, officials of Life Saving Victoria, International Life Saving Federation, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Royal Life Saving Society Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia to afternoon tea following the official opening of the programme in Canberra on 8th February. Welcoming the delegation and other participants, High Commissioner Somasundaram Skandakumar commended the noble work being carried out by those involved in Life Saving, usually working as volunteers, and appreciated LSV’s partnership with Sri Lanka which will help prevent drownings as well as improve water safety thereby facilitating better utilisation of water assets to develop the tourism industry. The delegation will visit a range of locations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland to experience how lifesaving services integrate with businesses and communities to help promote tourism. Two members from Bahrain Life Saving who are also taking part in the programme were also present.
Life Saving Victoria (LSV) has been working with Sri Lanka Life Saving (SLLS) since 2011 in drowning prevention work. The partnership which started at a grass root level has recently moved to a holistic strategic level. As part of this partnership, LSV is working with female members of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, the business community and those within Sri Lanka Life Saving, to increase representation of females involved in community aquatic education, employment and organisational governance with the aim of preventing drowning and improving water safety in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka High Commission
Canberra
9 February 2018
