Almost 25 percent of Sri Lanka’s population will be above 60 by 2041

By Huzefa Aliasger  

Within the next decade almost 25 percent of Sri Lankans will be above the age of 60, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said, addressing the issue in Sri Lanka’s population growth decline that has been consistent for the past few years. 

Speaking at a media briefing held on the second day of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, Dr. Jayatissa said that, this figure would be comparatively higher than the South-East Asia Regional average, where around one-fifth of the population is projected to be aged over 60. 

The Minister emphasised the importance of strengthening accessibility to the health system for the elderly. “This goal can be achieved by enhancing primary health care. Currently, we are establishing 1,000 new primary health care institutions, in addition to the 1,100 already operating in divisional hospitals and Primary Medical Care Institutions. Within the next three years, over 2,000 such facilities will function across the country,” he said.  

“Ensuring healthy ageing is a challenge. However, as a government, we do not view it as a burden, not to the nation, the economy, or the health system,” Dr. Jayatissa stated.  

Dr. Jayatissa also pointed out that while Sri Lanka’s health workforce has effectively addressed challenges in communicable diseases and maternal and child health, the nature of public health challenges is now shifting. “As such, we have begun training our health workforce accordingly and have revised the training curriculum,” he said.  

According to a United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) report released in 2012 “Sri Lanka is one of the rapid ageing societies in South Asia and the latest Sri Lanka Population and Housing Census (SLPHC) reports that the share of elderly population over 60 years old in 2012 was 12.4 percent. This figure will be doubled by the mid of the century (De Silva, 2015). Then one in every four persons will be aged 60 years or over.”