Sri Lanka is ranked 12th out of 61 Countries, and 10th highest when compared with 35 Low and Middle Income Countries. According to the Drowning Prevention Report produced by World Health Organization (WHO), in December 2014, the average number of deaths per year has been stated as 855 during the period of 2001 to 2009, and 4.2 deaths per 100,000 during the period of 2012 to 2014.

To address these concerns, the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM), chaired by H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka, and the Interim Management Committee for Disaster Management formed a National Advisory Committee comprising of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Disaster Management Centre (DMC), advised by Hon. Minister, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Ministry of Education, Ceylon Tourist Board, Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Police, Department of Civil Defence, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Fisheries and Sri Lanka Life Saving Association (SLLSA).