Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2012-04-18

Taking Care of Aged Persons

- a Ministerial Committee consisting of Hon. Piyasena Gamage, Minister (Senior) for National Resources and Hon. Felix Perera, Minister of Social Services, was appointed by the Cabinet recently to go into this matter and make recommendations. Public Assistance Monthly Allowance has been increased from Rs.500/- to Rs.1000/- in keeping with the Budget Proposals 2012 and beneficiaries over 70 years of age are entitled to receive Rs.1000/- per month. The following recommendations made by the above Ministerial Committee will be considered for implementation by the relevant authorities:

* expansion of nursing facilities at household level to provide health care services for elders to be implemented by the Ministry of Health;
* rehabilitation and reconstruction of elders' wards at Base Hospitals of the Ministry of Health and major hospitals belonging to the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine;
* encouraging the private sector to construct Elders' Homes;
* construction of new Elders Homes in each Province so as to accommodate destitute elders in the respective Provincial Council areas;
* initiate a sponsor scheme to enable Sri Lankans living abroad to make contributions for the maintenance of Elders Homes; and
* extension of the Agrahara Insurance Scheme to include parents above 60 years of age, of employees in the Public Sector.