Ninety five inmates of the Welcome Village Elders’ Home in Wilagedara, Gonawila in the Pannala DS Division, Kurunegala are greatly inconvenienced as they do not have a responsible officer to resolve their day-today issues.
The Elders’ Home was founded by Herman Theodor Stuert, a Netherland national, to provide relief to roofless elders. Initially, 200 elders found refuge at the home. They were provided with healthcare, food and lodging.
After the death of the founder, the Home was maintained by a board from the Netherland assisted by a Sri Lankan Management Board.
The three workers here have not been paid their salaries for three months. They, therefore, neglect their duties. As a result, no one is available even to clean the premises.
Pannala Divisional Secretary Samantha Wickremaratna Bandara organizes shramadana campaigns more often to clean the home. “Twelve disabled elders stay in the home.
“Neither the Netherland Management nor the Sri Lankan Management Board is functioning now.
“I told the National Secretariat for Elders and the Department of Social Services about this pathetic situation and urged them to take over the Home under their control,” the Divisional Secretary said.
Add new comment