320 elderly homes operating illegally

A stark revelation from the National Audit Office indicates that a vast majority of elderly care homes in Sri Lanka are operating outside official channels. The report states that out of 456 existing elderly care homes, only 136 have been registered with the Secretary to the Ministry of Elderly Care.

This significant gap suggests that nearly 320 elderly care facilities are functioning without meeting the required regulatory standards. The lack of registration raises concerns about the quality of care, safety, and oversight provided to the elderly residents in these unregistered homes.

Adding to the concern, the report highlights that the gazette notification mandating the registration of such homes was issued more than twelve years ago. This indicates a prolonged period of non-compliance and a failure to enforce regulations designed to protect vulnerable elderly individuals. The requirement for registration applies to any facility housing five or more elderly persons.