Three elders abandoned daily

Nethali STRUYS

On an average three elders are left abandoned daily on Sri Lanka's roads, according to Social Services Minister Felix Perera.

By July 30 this year the number of complaints lodged at the Elders' Maintenance Board in this regard is 158. Further the number of complaints that have been recorded last year was 254.

"It is shocking to note that a country like Sri Lanka which is said to lay great emphasis on the extended family concept is facing such a situation.

'The religious background of the country had guided the community to develop and uphold family values", he said.

Current issues such as economic hardships and busy lifestyles may have lead to this situation, the minister stated. In the hope of providing justice to these helpless elders the National Elders' Secretariat Director J. Krishnamoorthy had made inquiries and out of the 254 abandoned elders last year 75 have been reunited with their families. Another 58 cases have been inquired into. Further, out of 158 cases which was filed as at June 30 this year 32 haver been solved while another 22 are being inquired into. A well-planned programme needs to be introduced to aid these helpless elders to minimize this situation since elders are in their second childhood and need special attention, the minister added.