COLOMBO, Oct. 30 -- Sri Lanka has been identified as one of the countries in Asia with the fastest-growing elderly population, health authorities have warned, underscoring the urgent need for stronger health and social support systems for senior citizens.

According to Consultant Community Physician Dr Nishani Ubeysekara, Sri Lanka's elderly population, those aged 60 years and above, has grown sharply over the past decade.

"In 2012, people over 60 accounted for about 12% of Sri Lanka's total population. By 2024, that figure has risen to 18%," Dr Ubeysekara said, addressing a media briefing organized by the Health Promotion Bureau. "We project that by 2040, one in every four Sri Lankans, or 25% of the population, will be elderly."

Noting...