Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development Upali Samarasinghe stated that the present government is committed to re-elevating the cooperative movement at the national level through coordinated institutional support and policy direction.
He made these remarks while addressing a two-day workshop organized by the Department of Cooperative Development at the National Cooperative Development Institute, Polgolla, to prepare a national action plan for the cooperative sector.
The Deputy Minister described the gathering as a historic opportunity for ministers, commissioners, secretaries, provincial council representatives and line ministry officials to come together to discuss the cooperative movement after many decades.
He noted that during previous administrations, the level of direct intervention, encouragement and guidance required to build and empower the cooperative sector had been limited. Therefore, he stressed the importance of all stakeholders working collectively under the new government to strengthen cooperatives and deliver more efficient services to rural communities.
He further emphasized that political authorities, including the President, are extending sincere commitment and leadership to revitalizing the cooperative movement.
The workshop enabled extensive discussions and exchange of views among stakeholders, with particular focus on formulating a practical national-level action plan for the future growth and sustainability of the cooperative sector.
