June 10, Colombo: Six students who were swimming in Talpe sea in Habaraduwa, Galle, Saturday evening (June 10) were caught by the waves and swept away.

The police said that 5 students were rescued by local residents and the police, while one student was drowned and missing.

The student who drowned and went missing was a 16-year-old resident of Kurunegala, Pothuhera area.

The six students were among a group of students who participated in an excursion organized by a tuition class in Kurunegala and met with the accident while swimming at Talpe beach. The police say that 42 students have participated in this trip.

The police and navy lifeguards have started a joint search operation to find the missing student.