Over five lakhs of Senior Citizens in NWP

S.M. Wijayaratne-Kurunegala Corr

A recent survey conducted by the Social Services Ministry of the NWP Provincial Council has revealed that there are over 500,000 senior citizens in both the Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts at present.

R.D. Gunadasa Dehigama, the NWP Provincial Social Welfare Minister told the Daily News that there are 200,000 senior citizens in the Puttalam District and over 300,000 senior citizens in the Kurunegala District. These figures are based on a recent survey conducted in the two districts. Dehigama said that a number of welfare programmes have been implemented by the Provincial Council for the benefit of these senior citizens.

As part of the programme 400 people in Elders’ Homes in the province have been issued with free spectacles, free ayurvedic medications, and clothes to be worn during sil observation programmes on poya days. Further, 46 District Secretariat offices in the province have been granted Rs. 75,000 each to be allocated to Elders’ Homes in their respective divisions to organize pilgrimages during this year.