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Older people taking part in the International Day for Older Persons celebrations, with goody bags from HelpAge Sri Lanka.
What happened in 2008?
This year HelpAge Sri Lanka facilitated a peaceful demonstration involving over 1,000 older people. Each of them received a small Age Demands Action goody bag to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons.
Many of them made use of seats reserved for them on public buses – a scheme that HelpAge Sri Lanka is hoping the government will implement as a permanent measure.
Older people were also invited to make use of the HelpAge Sri Lanka Mobile Medical Unit, where they were offered free healthcare and advice.
Following the march, the delegation met with ministers from the:
- Ministry of Social Services and Social welfare
- National Council
- National Secretariat for Elders
- Public Transport Authority.
The delegation asked that the government makes a commitment to:
- Issue Senior Citizens Identity Cards to all older people in Sri Lanka, and legally recognise these cards.
- Open a separate counter for older people in all service-providing institutions such as banks, post offices, hospitals, police stations and government offices.
- Broadcast more information for older people in the media.
- Take necessary steps to strengthen Senior Citizens Committees in villages.
- Provide
livelihood assistance to all older people in need.
- Provide free
public transport facilities to all older people.
- Provide a non-contributory pension to all older people in Sri Lanka.
A second programme of activities took place on the 4 October.
Highlights from 2007
The delegation met with Mr Lionel Premisiri, Deputy Minister for Social Services and Social Welfare. Presentations from delegation members were followed by questions and frank discussions with the Deputy Minister.
The meeting resulted in a commitment from the government to expand the coverage of the existing social pension scheme.
The meeting aroused great interest among the public and the local press, and featured in reports broadcast on all local news stations.
