Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a society must be built in which all senior citizens can lead lives marked by safety, freedom, happiness, health, mobility, and spiritual well-being, with their rights duly safeguarded.
She further emphasized that this is a shared responsibility of both the government and society.
The Prime Minister made these remarks yesterday (31) while virtually participating in the opening of the ‘Silver Age Center’, an Elder Care, Training and Research Centre equipped with modern facilities in Kataragama. The event was held at the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, located in the new Sethsiripaya building, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.
During the event, the Prime Minister was presented with a draft of regulations and guidelines pertaining to the governance of institutions that provide residential care for senior citizens, by representatives of the National Council for Senior Citizens.
Expressing her views further, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“This project, which commenced in 2022, had been halted due to various reasons. However, we have now resumed the project and are pleased to hand it over to the public today.
One of the key commitments of our policy is to create a society that ensures safety and safeguards the rights of all. Everyone, from the young to the elderly, deserves to enjoy these rights, along with freedom and happiness.
A significant portion of our population is rapidly transitioning into senior age. However, the age of 60 still represents an active stage of life during which individuals can contribute meaningfully to society and the economy. Senior citizens have needs, as well as abilities and valuable experience. We must recognize that they can continue to engage with society and remain active contributors.
Institutions that provide services for senior citizens play a vital role, and maintaining them is a social responsibility. It is essential to ensure the rights of and provision of necessary services for all senior citizens, whether they reside within families, live independently, or are in institutional care.
We must ensure access to healthcare, transportation, lifelong learning, freedom, happiness, and spiritual well-being for senior citizens, while safeguarding their rights.
We should move beyond the traditional concept of ‘elderly homes’ and instead develop institutions that cater to the diverse needs of senior citizens, enabling them to spend their later years with dignity and respect.”
The opening of the ‘Silver Age Center’, Elder Care, Training and Research Centre, was carried out by Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, R. M. Jayawardhana, together with regional public representatives and government officials. The occasion was attended virtually by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Dr. Upali Pannilage; the Secretary to the Ministry, Sampath Manthrinayake; and other ministry officials.
