Elders play major role

Priyanka Kurugala

The elderly people have created a chapter of the country's history. Their ideas are shown to us in many ways. The present generation can see the country that has been built by the elderly community of today, Social Services Minister Felix Perera said.

Around two million or 10 percent of the country's population are elders, he said. He was addressing a meeting of the Gampaha District Senior Citizens Organization held recently, at the Gampaha Bandaranayake Vidyalaya.

The number will increase up to 18 percent in 2020. However it cannot be considered that the people over 60 years are an inactive part of the community, he said.

Sixty years is only a legal convention. Political and administrative activities are specially conducted by individuals over 60 years.

Most of veteran artists and literary critics are also senior citizens.

"We should not considered them as a burden or challenge to society," he said. The Government has planned to use the ability of elderly community to develop the country.

Caring for parents and the elderly people is a way of expressing gratitude for them.

Some parents are helpless due to low income and migration of their children.

If senior citizens can be empowered by giving a monthly payment, it will helped them to build up their security.