Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-01-03

The Proposed National Elderly Health Policy of Sri Lanka and the Strategies

- The rapid increase of the ageing population, mainly due to the increase in the life expectancy and the fertility decline is a current problem faced by Sri Lanka. It is anticipated that the current proportion of 12% of the people aged over 60 years will increase to 16% by 2020 and 29% by 2050. In order to face this situation, it is necessary for the health care programmes to focus on preventing ill health. Accordingly, the proposal 'National Elderly Health Policy' submitted to the Cabinet by Hon. (Dr.) Rajitha Senaratne, the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, with a view to providing a wholestic health service for the senior citizens living in Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.