Sri Lanka Police have emphasized that ensuring the safety of elderly citizens living alone at home has become a highly sensitive and urgent national priority.
Police spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler noted that increased cases of children migrating, working in other areas, or living abroad have left many parents vulnerable and isolated.
Authorities warn that drug-dependent offenders often target such homes for money and gold, sometimes leading to serious crimes including homicide.
The police urge families to improve home safety by ensuring proper night lighting, providing easy-to-use mobile phones, and storing emergency contact numbers such as police, family members, and ambulance services.
They also advise strengthening neighborhood cooperation and informing village officers and community police committees about elderly individuals living alone for better protection.
Additionally, the public is urged to carefully verify the background of caregivers or domestic workers by obtaining police clearance reports before hiring them.
