- Legal Aid Commission officers to assist elders seeking maintenance from their children
An ongoing programme to look into cases of parents being neglected by their children has been expanded, under an initiative of the National Council for Elders, to include the services of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka.
Under the new initiative, neglected parents in different parts of the country can lodge complaints with the Legal Aid Commission offices in their respective areas, thus saving themselves the trouble of coming to Colombo to seek help. The Legal Aid Commission has 146 centres around the country.
Under the programme, needy parents can claim maintenance from their children through the Mediation Board for Elders, set up by the National Secretariat for Elders, operating under the Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare. The board, appointed on the instructions of Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda, will look into cases of neglect of parents by their children.
The Mediation Board for Elders has been set up under provisions in the Parliamentary Act No. 09 of 2000 for the Protection of the Rights of Elders. The Act stipulates that it is the duty of children to look after their parents and take care of all their needs.
“This is a way of helping neglected elders to come forward and present their case,” Ministry of Social Services and Social Welfare secretary V. Jegarasasingham said. “Parents who have been neglected by their children can complain to the Legal Aid Commission office in their areas.”
Under the Act, neglected parents can claim maintenance from their children on a monthly or periodical basis, or with a lump sum payment, Mrs. Jegarasasingham said.
The first Mediation Board was set up in June 2003, and up to May this year has received 322 complaints with regard to neglected elders. According to Mrs. Jegarasasingham, 118 of the 322 cases have been resolved, and the balance cases remain unresolved for various reasons, including children based overseas. |
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