The HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) joined the National Secretariat for Elders (NSE) recently to distribute dry ration and non-food items for over 700 flood and landslide affected elders in the Galle, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya districts.
The programme was funded by the HelpAge International Regional Emergency Fund under its Emergency Flood and Landslides Response Project. The US based Margaret A Cargill Foundation sponsored the project.
The distribution was carried out by the HelpAge jointly with selected Divisional Secretariats in the Galle, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya districts.
Three hundred family members of Baddegama DS Division , 400 of the Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya districts received food and non-food items containing rice, milk powder, sugar, dhal, canned fish and mosquito nets, mats and many other items.
HASL Executive Director Samantha Liyanawaduge said the HelpAge also performs free cataract surgeries for elders in low income families at the HelpAge Eye Hospital, Wellawatta, Colombo 6.
He said elderly persons could have their eyes tested and undergo surgeries for free at the HelpAge Eye Hospital.
He said the HelpAge conducts mobile medical camps all over the country and providing free spectacles, wheelchairs, walkers, walking frames, clutches and walking sticks for needy elders.
Baddegama Divisional Secretary Himali Ratnaweera and Ruwanwella, Dehiowita Mawanella and Ambagmuwa Divisional Secretaries assisted the HelpAge to distribute food and non-food parcels, while Galle DS officials Nishantha Kodagoda and Duleka Priyadharshani assisted.