Two more people have died in separate drowning incidents in Sri Lanka, taking the number of drowning deaths reported since April 12 to 22, according to police.

Police said a 55-year-old man from Maradan Kulama drowned in the Maradan Kulama reservoir in the Mihintale police area on Saturday.

The victim had gone to the reservoir with his son, a friend and two children. Police said the man jumped into the water after seeing the two children, aged 11 and 12, struggling in the water, and drowned while trying to rescue them.

The two children were rescued unharmed.

In a separate incident, a 17-year-old youth from Lunugala drowned while bathing in the Seethawaka River in the Dehiowita police area.

Police said the teenager had travelled with relatives to visit a family home in the area before going to the river with the group.

With the latest two deaths, police said 22 drowning fatalities have been reported across several parts of the country since April 12.

Police have repeatedly urged the public to exercise caution when bathing in rivers, reservoirs and other waterways during the holiday season. (Newswire)

The post Man dies saving children; April drowning toll hits 22 appeared first on Newswire.