As part of efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector and develop the rural economy, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development has implemented the “Ten Thousand Agricultural Production Cooperatives” program.
On December 31, 2025, the Ministry provided seven tractors to various service cooperatives at the Sathosa premises on Vauxhall Street, Colombo. The total value of the tractors amounts to approximately Rs. 47 million (Rs. 46,875,500).
The tractors were distributed on a priority basis to cooperative societies in the North Central, North Western, and Eastern provinces, including:
- Anuradhapura Kahatagasdigiliya Various Services Cooperative Society
- Anuradhapura Palagala Various Services Cooperative Society
- Polonnaruwa Medirigiriya Various Services Cooperative Society
- Polonnaruwa Dimbulagala Various Services Cooperative Society
- Ampara Agricultural Export and Entrepreneurship Cooperative Society
- Kurunegala Mahawa Various Services Cooperative Society
- Puttalam Karuwalagaswewa Various Services Cooperative Society
The Ministry stated that providing these tractors aims to enhance agro-industrial services for farmers, reduce production costs, and economically strengthen the cooperative sector. The initiative also seeks to deliver quality, standardized goods to consumers at reasonable prices, fostering a competitive market alongside the private sector under the government’s productive economy policy.
Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Ministers R. M. Jayawardena and Upali Samarasinghe, Secretary K.A. Wimalenthirarajah, Commissioner of Cooperative Development Tarani Kumaradasa, and other officials attended the event.
The program to supply tractors and agricultural equipment under the “Ten Thousand Agricultural Production Cooperatives” initiative is scheduled to continue in 2026, with the goal of directly benefiting rural communities and contributing to the national economy.
