This week, the Government announced the approval of an updated National Policy on Senior Citizens endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers. The policy is intended to ensure that senior citizens can live with dignity in good social, economic, physical, and spiritual conditions.
On paper, this is a welcome move. Sri Lanka, like most parts of the world, is ageing at an unprecedented pace. With one of the lowest birthrates in South Asia and a steadily growing elderly population, the country faces serious questions about how to sustain its workforce, pensions, welfare mechanisms, and healthcare systems. In short, the ageing of our population is no longer a distant issue. It is an unfolding reality.
The approval of the updated policy is an acknowledgement that the existing national framework is outdated and must adapt to changing global and local realities. However, Sri Lanka has a long history of passing progressive policies that fail to provide the intended results, especially due to issues related to implementation. The real test lies not in what has been included in the policy but in whether the Government has the vision, the resources, and the political will to transform commitments into tangible improvements in the lives of senior citizens.
The challenges are multidimensional. Economic security is one of the foremost concerns. Not all Sri Lankans retire with pensions or provident fund savings. A significant proportion of older people, particularly in rural and informal sectors, enter old age without a reliable income, savings or support mechanisms. The updated policy must therefore go beyond rhetoric and create inclusive retirement mechanisms. Be it through contributory savings schemes, community-based finance programmes or State-supported social safety nets, the elderly must be guaranteed at least a minimum level of financial security.
Moreover, a significant number of elderly people remain capable of contributing productively even after retirement as they possess valuable experience and knowledge. Those who are willing and able should be reintegrated into the workforce under fair, transparent employment contracts. Such opportunities would not only empower older individuals but also strengthen the economy. However, this requires safeguards. Laws and policies must be introduced to prevent exploitation, scams and unfairly low wages, ensuring that the contribution of senior citizens is properly recognised and respected.
Another pressing concern is access to services. For many senior citizens, particularly in rural areas, accessing government services remains challenging. An updated national policy should come hand-in-hand with a national audit to identify service gaps and infrastructure shortcomings. It is not enough to merely state that services exist. They must also be accessible, affordable, and responsive to the unique needs of older persons. For example, health clinics, pension offices, and social service units should provide elder-friendly facilities, from priority counters to mobile outreach for those unable to travel.
Equally critical yet often overlooked is the topic of mental health. Loneliness, depression, and social isolation are common among the elderly, especially in an era where traditional family support systems are not as strong as before. The national policy must explicitly recognise that ageing is not only a physical process but also a psychological one. Psychosocial support services, counselling, and community-based engagement programmes should be integrated into what the State offers.
Sri Lanka’s public health system, which has been praised for its reach, must also adapt to meet the realities of an ageing population. Services need to be more targeted, and include routine health screenings for conditions like hypertension, diabetes and cancer, specialised care in hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities for those with mobility or cognitive impairments are necessary. Investing in elder-focused healthcare today will prevent far greater costs tomorrow, both human and financial.
More attention must also be paid to ensuring geriatric care at affordable prices in the private sector, where many services remain inaccessible to ordinary citizens. Equally important is the expansion of palliative care, as those with chronic or terminal illnesses such as cancer deserve a dignified and low-pain end of life. A broad social discourse is needed to challenge cultural taboos surrounding death and to promote compassionate, humane approaches to end-of-life care based on the quality of life.
There is an urgent need to regulate and streamline care-giving services, as reports of elder abuse, neglect, and low-quality care continue to surface. Proper training, monitoring, and the certification of caregivers alongside clear legal accountability are essential to ensure that vulnerable older persons receive respectful, safe and professional assistance. Another pressing issue is the growing expectation that elderly persons take care of their grandchildren, often while dealing with their own health and financial struggles. This highlights the broader issue of unpaid care work. An open, social discourse on the fairness and sustainability of such burdens is a timely need.
The Cabinet’s approval of the updated policy is a necessary first step. But, let us be clear – without urgent and concrete action, the policy risks becoming another well-intentioned document that does not get implemented. Sri Lanka cannot afford complacency. The demographic transition is underway, and its consequences will shape our economy, society and our families for decades to come. Senior citizens are not a burden. Ensuring their dignity and wellbeing is not charity. It is a matter of justice. A society is ultimately judged by how it treats its most vulnerable.