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The long-awaited project to build a 25 meter swimming pool in Galle is about to begin
Adoptsrilanka’s roll in the project is strictly financial. We are providing fundingof 60,000Euro’s that is matched by SOS-Velsen” an organisation from Holland. The Lighthouse Hotel will be providing the land and will be responsible for all upkeep and maintenance; the Swim Lanka team will provide the expertise and training/coaching etc. The pool is being designed by Sri Lankan renowned architect Channa Daswatte.
The concept, is to provide a forum for local school children to receive swimming lessons completely for free of charge. This links nicely into ASL’s school Twins programme, we will be able to promote the new pool facility within the schools via our twins field officers. We are hoping the schools will take block bookings and use the pool to teach as many students to swim as possible...
The rationale for this project in Sri Lanka is that:
- Many children lost their lives by drowning because they did not know how to swim
- Many children are traumatised and have an enormous fear of water and the ocean, yet every day of their lives will have to go near the ocean living on coastal villages.
- There are very few public pools in Sri Lanka and in addition to children, very few people are able to swim.
We were considering to build a swimming pool in Trincomali but the current security situation it is definitely too dangerous for any building or any plans to build in the immediate future.
ASL is actively fundraising for this worthy project currently we have raised $60,000 USD and are looking for another $10,000USD to fulfill our commitment. For information on how to make a donation please click here
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Background on Swim Lanka
On December 26th, when the Tsunami hit Sri Lanka a large proportion of the deaths and casualties were children. There are a couple of reasons for this; the first is that in Sri Lanka children account for approximately 37% of the total population – a large proportion, secondly children were physically less able to outrun the water or withstand the force of the water and/or debris and finally the key reason is that the children were unable to swim. Since this programme's conception, thousands of children have regained confidence in the water again. For more information on the work and achievements of swim Lanka, please visit www.swimlanka.lk
Picture gallery of achievements below:
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| 2nd fibre glass pool, Rekawa |
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Arrival of first fibreglass pool, Tangalle |
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Graduates of the Swim Lanka, Swim for Life course, Tangalle |
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| Installation of first pool, Tangalle |
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Proud graduate of the Swim Lanka, Swim for Life course |
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Sri Lanka's Olympic swimmer, Julian Rolling at work in Tangalle |
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| Swim Lanka lessons in action, Rekawa |
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SwimLanka Pilot Project, Tangalle |
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