Challenge to Presidential candidates on ageing

Population ageing has become one of the leading demographic issues the world has to face. As a developing country, Sri Lanka is no exception to the global trend of population ageing and its resultant social and economic implications.

Sri Lanka ranks as a country with a rapidly ageing population. According to the Census of Population conducted in 2001, the proportion of people over 60 years and above, defined in general terms as the elderly, is around 9.2 per cent and the total number of such persons was estimated to be around 1.7 million of a population of 18.9 million. Sri Lanka has not only the almost highest proportion of elderly among the developing countries, but it is also among the fastest ageing countries in the whole world.

Demographic projections indicate that while the other developing countries in Asia lag behind, Sri Lankan population will age rapidly such that the proportion of elders by 2010 would be 12 per cent, by 2020 17 per cent and by 2030 one of every five persons would be an older person (20 per cent).

Population ageing brings about a host of constraints and complex issues in economic and social terms which need to be intricately assessed, planned and provided for by the national policy leaders. Sri Lanka, participating in world assemblies on ageing over nearly two decades, has been progressively defining and refining a national policy on ageing and creating public awareness on the ageing situation, lobbying for the Government's plan of action and resource allocation for its early implementation.

Under the Protection of the Rights of Elders Act (2000) the statutory National Council for Elders which was established, implemented several of its provisions. A longer vision was the conduct of a National Survey of Elders in 2003/4 and a series of workshops towards drafting a national policy.

Drawing on the Second World Assembly on Ageing Plan of Action (Madrid 2002), U.N. Principles for Older Persons, guiding principles of the constitution of Sri Lanka and the Rights of Elders Act, the National Council Prepared a Charter for Elders and a National Policy for Elders which was tabled at the National Council on September 23, 2004. The national policy spelt out 17 strategies spread over three priority directions:

Direction I - Older persons and development,

Direction II - Advancing health and well-being in old age ensuring health, nutrition and recreation.

Direction III - Ensuring, enabling and supporting environment.

The National policy was the culmination of a series of National workshops by Government, U.N. and NGOs over a decade culminating in apex workshops in 2004 conducted by the Ministry of Social Welfare with other related sectors including Health, Education, Labour, Finance and Planning, and the close cooperation of the National Council for Elders.

The National Council was represented by related Ministries, the NGO Forum on Ageing and other organizations working for the welfare of the aged.

The conclusion to the National policy urged dissemination and discussion, approval by Government and followed by a National Work Plan and its implementation with collaboration of the private sector and NGOs and assured provisions in the annual budgets. The conclusion also sounded a caution on effects of non implementation on the elders who constitute a high proportion in many constituencies.

The NGO Forum on Ageing calls on the Presidential candidates for this commitment to implementing the finalized but pending National Policy on Ageing as a matter of priority if the healthcare and well-being of the elders are to be assured.

- Manel Abeysekera, NGO Forum on Ageing