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Number of senior citizens rising – state official

Published

7 months ago

2025/08/14

The number of senior citizens, those above 60 years, has risen to about 18 percent, according to provisional findings of the 2024 Census of Population and Housing, showing an increase from 12.4 percent in the 2012 census, a senior government official said.

“Our preliminary report states that the total population increased to 21.7 million in 2024, while the growth rate declined to 0.5 percent from 0.7 percent in 2021. The ‘feminisation of ageing’ trend for those over 70 years in the 2012 census continued in the 2024 census,” said Dr. W.A. Chandani Wijebandara, Director (Statistics), Department of Census and Statistics.

She was speaking at a discussion titled ‘Elderly issues and the way forward’ organised by the Sunrise Senior Foundation (SSF), a prominent not-for-profit organisation working in the interests of senior citizens, on 21 July in Colombo. The discussion brought together high-level government officials and civil society representatives aimed at charting policy formulation on senior citizens.

Reiterating that in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka has the fastest ageing population, Ms. Shiranthi Rathnayake, Director-General, Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance, spoke about giving the maximum benefit of the ‘silver dividend’ to the ‘Silver Economy’ of the elderly.

A social protection policy is being developed not just taking into account the elderly but across the whole lifecycle, she said, explaining that in the social protection strategy the social insurance/security pillar is very important.

Ms. Rathnayake said: “One out of four persons by the year 2040 will fall into the elderly group. We need to consider this Silver Economy and have proper planning for health, life education, geriatric care and labour market development.

A critical area currently under assessment is assistive device technology, she added.

K. Chathura Mihidum, Director, National Secretariat for Elders, said there are 11,500 elder committees at village level of which only 50-60 percent are active. There are 456 elders’ homes of which only 136 are registered.

“Under the new Policy on Elders being drafted now to replace the 2006 policy, we hope to bring in a regulatory framework not only to compel all elders’ homes to register but also for the authorities to monitor them,” he said.

On a different topic, tax expert N.R. Gajendran said that with elders living longer, the retirement age should go up. “I get many calls from senior citizens on the preparation of taxes. One person said when asked to pay taxes on savings, ‘I have already paid taxes all my life on this income’.”

With regard to the proposed property tax to be introduced in 2027, he asked: “What happens to a person who has no income and lives in his own house? How can you tax this person?”

According to him, the purchasing power of elders has dropped and they need to be provided small tax-free allowances, while scrapping the withholding tax for the elderly group only.

It was the matter of price pressures worrying the elderly that economist Dhananath Fernando spoke of.

Even if they get a higher rate of interest on deposits, it means nothing because they are spending more on goods and services, he said, urging the authorities to incentivise private pension schemes.

Fernando also lamented the lack of short-term stay facilities for elders and proposed increasing the retirement age and providing options for the elderly to work on a part-time or flexible basis. Investors should be encouraged to invest in proper elder-care facilities, with a quality regulatory framework similar to day-care centres for children.

Demography expert Prof. Manori Weeratunga said that while the health status and the economic security of elders are the main focus, there is also a need to take into account a sharp increase in the 80 years and over population. Here the gender differences need to be taken into consideration, too.

“The vulnerable groups are mainly elders in the village. We need to empower senior citizens as most of them are in the informal sector,” she said.

Referring to healthy ageing, public health expert Dr. Susie Perera spoke of how elders who need specialised treatment, such as kidney dialysis, often have to seek such treatment in the private sector which they could ill-afford. “We need to re-look at the health policy with regard to the elderly.”

Sociologist Prof. Siri Hettige said elders are under enormous pressure and social protection is the key to looking after them. “We need interim solutions……what can we do now? We are a ‘scattered’ society and as such, we have no social solidarity. Thus we need to make ageing inclusive instead of being a marginalising factor,” he said.

Chaminda de Silva from HelpAge, said his organisation which cares for senior citizens, has a presence in many other countries, too. “While empowering elders’ committees in the villages, we give training on various aspects to senior citizens who are not active and some elders have done well in income generating activities. We also send out mobile medical units,” he said.

Sarvodaya President Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne noted that some segments of the elderly population can manage on their own because of their socio-economic status. But in the villages, it may not be so.

With isolation among the elderly being a “huge” problem, he suggested the setting up of ‘integrated’ community centres involving all, including children.

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A new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly – PM

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly and to regulate preschools through a regulatory authority.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing an awareness programme for preschool teachers in the Hambantota District on education reforms, held on Sunday (15) at the Ambalantota Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium.

During the programme, preschool teachers briefed the Prime Minister about the challenges they currently face. Responding to their concerns, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:

“The issues within the preschool system cannot be discussed separately from the broader crisis in society and in the education sector. When we assumed office in 2024, our primary challenge was to free the country from its debt burden and to establish. a sound economic indicators.

Although 2025 was a challenging year, we were able to bring the country’s economy to a certain level of stability and manage the national budget accordingly.

While we were working towards economic recovery, the war in the Middle East began, which has had certain impacts on our country as well.

A significant amount of Sri Lanka’s foreign remittances come from our fellow citizens working in the Middle East. Today, both their livelihoods and employment are under threat. In addition, a large number of tourists travelled to Sri Lanka through Middle Eastern airspace, and the closure of those air routes and airports has reduced tourist arrivals. Another issue concerns fuel transportation. This problem has affected not only Sri Lanka but many countries around the world. If the war continues for a long period, it will have further impacts on us, and therefore we must be prepared. We also need to manage the economy carefully and reduce certain expenditures.

Although we have the ability to borrow, our intention is not to weaken the country’s economy by relying on loans.

You are aware that we have begun implementing education reforms. Within that policy framework, we are also taking steps to reform preschool education. So far, the establishment of preschools and early childhood development has not been carried out in a systematic manner. Therefore, we must regulate and standardize all preschools, which is not an easy task.

First, all preschools must be formally registered. We have already prepared a curriculum for teacher training. In addition, we plan to introduce a new curriculum for preschools in 2027, provide teacher training accordingly, and regulate preschools through a regulatory authority. A recognized curriculum has also been prepared for the preschool diploma. In the future, priority for preschool teachers will be given based on these qualifications. We will also take gradual steps to enhance the professionalism of preschool teachers and establish a proper salary structure”.

The Prime Minister further stated that preschools fall under the authority of Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, while the line ministry can only provide policy recommendations. She also emphasized that issues related to preschools should be addressed in a systematic manner through structural committees and District Development Committees.

Member of Parliament Nihal Galappaththi and other public representatives, along with preschool teachers from the Hambantota District attended the awareness program.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Be mindful of the accuracy of information before sharing it on social media – PM

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the weakening of public trust in information disseminated through the media is extremely dangerous for a society, and emphasized that people must be mindful of the truthfulness of information before sharing it on social media.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the “Sandeshaya” Media Awards Ceremony held on 14 March at the Kularathne Hall of Ananda College, Colombo. The event was organized with the aim of providing Sri Lankan school students with an opportunity to actively contribute to the national media discourse while promoting ethics, responsibility, and critical thinking.

During the “Sandeshaya” Awards Ceremony , lifetime awards granted only once in a lifetime were presented to distinguished veterans in the media field, while media awards were also presented to talented students in the school category. The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Prime Minister.

Expressing her views further, the Prime Minister stated:

“We live in an era where information technology and the media are changing rapidly. Along with these changes, many opportunities have emerged, but we are also confronted with numerous challenges.

We must prepare our younger generation to live in a society and a world transformed by information technology and the media.

When we observe the changes taking place in the media today, we can say that the media and information have become democratized. In the past, access to knowledge and information was largely limited to privileged or powerful groups. The authority to communicate information and decide what should be disseminated was held by a small group. However, with the advancement of technology, this has changed dramatically. As a result of this revolutionary transformation, information, data, and knowledge have now become accessible to everyone. In that sense, it is a positive development.

At the same time, we are no longer merely media viewers or consumers. As citizens, we can also become media creators. Citizens now have significant space to engage with the media and share information. While this is positive in one sense, it also carries certain dangers. There are serious questions, issues, and challenges regarding responsibility and credibility in the dissemination of information. Today, information flows so rapidly that it is sometimes difficult to determine what is true. Making decisions has become increasingly challenging. Not only in our country but globally, there have been many instances where societies have been set ablaze due to misinformation or deliberately distorted information. We have witnessed numerous occasions where people’s lives have been destroyed as a result.

Sometimes, without even realizing it, we get trapped on the internet. We share various things through our social media platforms, both necessary and unnecessary. However, what we often forget is that a large amount of personal information accumulates on the internet through these actions. Once incorrect information becomes widespread in this way, it becomes extremely difficult to erase.

The spread of false information weakens public trust in the information provided by the media, and this is extremely dangerous for a society. For the sustainability of a society, it is essential to maintain trust among citizens and trust in the institutions that influence people’s lives. Only through the trust we can safeguard the sustainability, continuity, and security of a society.

However, what has happened today due to the spread of misinformation? We no longer have confidence in our leaders. We do not even trust elders. There is doubt about whether the news we receive can be trusted. When credibility weakens within a society, it can push that society into crisis.

Therefore, it is extremely important to cultivate a culture that strengthens trust in leadership, promotes confidence in elders, and enhances awareness about reliable sources of information. In this context, those entering the field of media carry a significant responsibility.

Just like the senior professionals we honored today, you too may one day enter this field. However, there is a vast difference between the era in which they entered the profession and the era you will enter. You will carry a unique responsibility to strengthen the credibility of the media and to stand firmly behind the information you present.

You must be able to stand by the information you provide. You must reflect on whether the information you share is true and who might be affected by it. Ensuring the credibility of the information you disseminate is also your responsibility.

Similarly, as users of any form of media, we all bear a responsibility to verify the reliability of the information we receive and to be aware of how to distinguish between truth and falsehood. That is why digital literacy and media literacy are essential. It is also for this reason that we believe such subjects and concepts must be incorporated into education reforms so that our student generation can learn them.’

The Prime Minister further stated that citizens have a responsibility to be mindful of the truthfulness of information before sharing content found on the internet and social media with others.

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Anil Jasinghe, Principal of Ananda College D.M.L.P. Dissanayake, journalists, principals, teachers, and students.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 15 March 2026, valid for 16 March 2026.

The public is warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at
some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491