Government to Introduce Mandatory Registration for All Elders’ Homes Following Anguruwatota Tragedy

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment says a new set of regulations will soon be introduced to strengthen the registration and regulation of elders’ homes across the country.

Minister Dr. Upali Pannilage said that a comprehensive set of guidelines has already been prepared and will be forwarded to the Provincial Councils for approval.

According to the Minister, 455 elders’ homes have been officially registered to date, providing care for more than 10,000 elderly residents.

However, he noted that a number of institutions continue to operate without proper registration. 

Under the proposed regulations, registration will become mandatory for all elders’ homes, enabling authorities to ensure proper oversight and standards of care.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the government has taken steps to assist the residents of the Anguruwatota elders’ home that was destroyed in a devastating fire. 

He added that the Director of the National Secretariat for Elders visited the site and initiated the necessary measures to support those affected.

The fire, which broke out at the Anguruwatota Batagoda Elders’ Home on Wednesday, claimed the lives of 12 residents and left eight others injured.

Meanwhile, the director of the institution has been remanded until June 11 after being produced before the Horana Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing, while authorities have confirmed that the elders’ home had been operating without official registration.