The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has called for the establishment of a dedicated Police unit to deal with issues affecting older persons.
The Commission made the recommendation as part of its renewed focus on the rights and protection of older people around the International Day of Older Persons.
The proposal calls for specialised Police attention to complaints and other issues affecting older persons.
The HRCSL has separately emphasised that older people remain rights-holders regardless of whether they are economically active and has called for stronger protection of their dignity, equality and autonomy.
Its broader recommendations concerning older persons include improved healthcare and social protection, stronger regulation of residential care, protection against abuse and better access to justice.
The Commission has also highlighted the particular vulnerability of older people during climate-related disasters and the need for age-inclusive disaster preparedness and response.
The proposed dedicated Police unit is an HRCSL recommendation.
It does not mean that Sri Lanka Police has already established such a unit.
The recommendation comes as Sri Lanka's ageing population creates increasing demands on healthcare, social protection, law enforcement and other public services.
Sineth News reported separately on Census findings showing the growing share of older people in Sri Lanka and the chronic-disease burden reported among people aged 60 and above.
The HRCSL proposal is a separate rights and policing development and should not be merged into that health and demography article.
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