Over Rs.2,800 m spent annually on Senior Citizens

Irangika Range

The government spends around Rs.2800 million annually to grant monthly allowance of Rs.1,000 for Senior Citizens aged over 70, who are low income earners in the country, Social Services Minister Felix Perera said .

Social Services Minister Felix Perera presents certificates and gifts to one of the representatives of the Biyagama Elders’ Committee which has been nominated as a Best Elders’ Committee in the Colombo district.

The minister was addressing a ceremony at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo yesterday to mark International Elders' Day.

Minister Perera said plans are afoot to introduce a special health insurance scheme for the benefit of these recipients.

The national ceremony was organized by the Social Services Ministry in collaboration with the HelpAge Sri Lanka under the theme of 'Good health adds more years to life". Steps have been taken to pay a monthly allowance of Rs.1,000 to Senior Citizens over 70 years from 2012 in line with the last budget proposals. Accordingly, the monthly allowance is being paid to 174,000 senior citizens across the country.

"Our primary responsibility as a government is to look after Senior Citizens who had committed their lives for the betterment of their children and grandchildren as well as the development of the country," the minister said.

"The Mahinda Chinthana has given emphasis to Senior Citizens. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given special instructions that measures be taken to look after the aged population and provide them relief," he said. "The objective of the government is for the caring and enhancing the health of elders within an empowered family unit.

Providing healthcare facilities will make elders happy, healthy and more independent in their families," the minister said.

HelpAge Sri Lanka chairman Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa said elders have sacrificed a lot for the country, and should be treated with respect and dignity.

"Our mission is to ensure that the majority of the older generation continues to live in good health without being a burden to others," he added.