HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) recently opened a fully-fledged candle manufacturing centre at Kayts Divisional Secretariat in the Jaffna district for needy citizens to coincide with the ‘Healthy Aging Decade 2020–2023’, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to Kayts DS officials, HelpAge was the first organization to construct a candle manufacturing centre in the district to improve the livelihoods of senior citizens.
The centre was constructed under the guidance of the Kayts Divisional Secretariat and handed over to the ‘Udayan’ Senior Citizens Federation, Kayts, recently.
HelpAge Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge said various sizes of candles are extensively used by citizens in Jaffna for religious ceremonies almost everyday and the new centre would immensely benefit senior citizens.
The new candle manufacturing centre was opened by HelpAge Council Member Nishantha Gooneratne, Head of Programmes Chaminda De Silva, Kayts Divisional Secretary Manjuladevi Satheeshan, HelpAge Nothern Province Coordinator Rubesh Rathnam and Assistant Divisional Secretary Sivakaran Piranavasoruby according to Hindu traditional customs and rituals.
HelpAge also distributed dry ration packs, spectacles, non-food items, hygiene kits, drinking water cans, water containers and water storage plastic tanks worth over Rs. 10 million to senior citizens in the Kayts district.
In addition, HelpAge also conducted mobile medical and eye camps for needy elders and distributed medicines and free spectacles.
Ananda Kannangara