AVIVA NDB Poson Vandana

Over a million pilgrims visit Mihintale during the Poson season. AVIVA NDB has a campaign to make Poson pilgrims aware of the dangerous waters that have claimed many lives.

Pilgrims clamour to get into the AVIVA NDB Poson Vandana train.

This was the 17th year that the Company had the Poson safety awareness campaign - reducing the number of deaths from drowning among pilgrims to zero.

To ensure this trend continues, AVIVA NDB's safety campaign includes the distribution of leaflets starting from entry points to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, with hoardings, banners, pennants and public address systems reminding pilgrims to protect themselves.

The Company facilitates the presence of around 550 lifesavers at almost all the tanks and reservoirs with the collaboration of the police, navy and the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka. Over the years at least 150 lives of Poson pilgrims have been saved.

This year the lifesavers succeeded in saving 12 people.

This year we extended our traditional safety campaign in Anuradhapura to offer a free train service to and from Mihintale for the Poson pilgrims so that they were able to travel safely and comfortably" said AGM Marketing Amal Perera.

The train was available to devotees from June 24-26.