Mission
"To encourage participation of older persons on social development and to ensure their independence care, participation, self-fulfillment and dignity. Also to protect the rights of elders through awareness programmes"
Objectives
- To protect and promote the rights of elders.
- To identify the problems faced by the elders and make the policies accordingly and implement them.
- To implement various types of programmes by using their knowledge, skills and experience once again for social development.
- To conduct pre-retirement awareness programmes.
- To provide guidance and various types of welfare assistance for the needy elders.
- To maintain a database relating to elders.
Activities
National Council for Elders and National Secretariat for Elders have been established under the Protection of Elders Rights Act No. 9 of 2000. Sri Lanka belongs to South Asia where the percentage of elders is rapidly increasing. Therefore it is the duty of the Government to protect the rights of elders as well as to promote Social Welfare Services.
Healthy Aging Filled with Happiness
The elders population in Sri Lanka is rapidly increasing in line with the increase of world elderly population. It is expected that the elderly population in Sri Lanka will be 27.6% in year 2050 which was 9.3% in year 2000. Elders are well equipped with experience & knowledge. Our objective is to create environment where both youth and elders could take. part in the development process while exchanging their knowledge & skills thus ensuring the well being of the country with the aim of getting elderly participation for the development of the country. The Secretariat has built up a net work of elder’s committees throughout the Island.
Our aim is to make elders free from loneliness, get their active participation for the development of the country while ensuring the five UN principles of Freedom, Participation, Care, Dignity and Self Fulfillment.
Views and Suggestions
According to requests received by the National Secretariat for Elders and provincial social services Ministries, It is clear that many elders do not have permanent residences at present.
As per Act No.09 of 2000 residences should be prepared for homeless elders. As these requirements have not been fulfilled so far, National Secretariat for Elders has decided to start a paying elders’ home for retired elders as well as other elders. Accordingly relevant project proposal is submitted herewith.