Web of Life

It is now known that the current ageing population in Sri Lanka is around 10%, approximately one million. As a result to the country’s sound policies on health, welfare and social services, more people are living longer. This trend will escalate to around 20% in the next 15 to 20 years with major repercussions.

In order to address this important issue, the NGO Forum on Ageing (NFOA) was launched in Sri Lanka in 1999, the United Nations International Year to the Older Persons, under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Women’s Conference. It is a consortium of organisations and individuals who are interested in working for the Senior Citizens of this country. The Forum is now registered as an NGO with the NGO Secretariat, the Ministry to Social Welfare and the Department of Social Services.

In its short span of five years, the first two years were spent on addressing the needs of the ageing population, and an action plan was formulated. The first project of the Forum was its public awareness programme on the fast growing active ageing population, their expectations, needs and the continuing improvement of services provided to them which has been highlighted in the press and electronic media.

In order to educate the NFOA members and the general public on the above issues, the Forum has had many speakers address its members and others on subjects of interest to senior citizens. Eminent speakers of the calibre of Dr. Brighty de Mel, Professor Tuley de Silva, President, ‘Pharmaceutical Association of Sri Lanka and President, Institute of Chemistry, Dr. Deepthi Perera, Director of Youth Elderly, Disabled and Displaced Persons, Rev. Kingsley Perera and Mr. Mahinda Wijewardena spoke to the elders on nutrition for ageing, drug prices, promotion of’ health among older persons, love, care and attention to old people and saving for old age.

The NFOA has commenced a programme of helping Senior Citizens obtain ID cards for those over 60 years of age. The application forms and photographs are collected from Senior Citizens who are requested to come to a temple, church, school or any other convenient centre, where personnel from the National Elders Secretariat process the forms and issue the ID cards. The most recent programme was held at the Sri Lankadhara Society Hall, Wellawatte on 21st September, 2004, where ID cards for about 50 senior citizens from the Sri Lankadhara Society Elders Home and the Colombo YWCA Senior Citizens Club were processed. This event was covered by ITN

A crying need in the country today is the care of senior citizens who are too old, sick or weak to look after themselves, especially those who are unable to afford carers presently available from two such organisations. As a result the NFOA is planning a short training course for carers, conducted by a qualified trainer, for which they hope to raise funds.

The Girl Guides Association, one of the NFOA’s many affiliates, has addressed itself to the challenge of caring for the old people by organising programmes which is a way of bringing about a linkage between the two generations.

In its short history it has been frustrating, challenging and rewarding for the NFOA as a result of financial constraints. But its human resources, with their commitment and initiative, have been able to conduct many new activities.