Rishad Strives Hard to Develop Cooperative Movement in Srilanka

The International Day of the Cooperative movement is being commemorated by the United Nations since 1975 on First Saturday of July.

The International Co-operative Day falls on 02nd July this year.   Minister of Industry and Commerce  Rishad Bathiudeen declared a Co-operative Week from 25th June 2016 to 01st July and to commemorate the Cooperative Day on 02 July at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Colombo. This was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 14 June 2016.

While inaugurating Provincial Cooperative and Industrial Minister’s get together and International cooperative week at  BMICH today (23),  Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen said, that the International Cooperative day  will be celebrated on  2nd July 2016 in Nelum Pokkuna Theatre. President Maithiripala Sirisena will be the Chief Guest for this event.

While inaugurating Provincial Cooperative and industrial Minister’s get together and International Cooperative week at BMICH, He said that a Secretariat was establish to re activate  weakened cooperative movement in the past. This Secretariat has done an extensive research and compiled their report . This report which identified the shortcomings, problems, challenges and ways and means of  resolving it ,  is available in Tamil language too. Steps have been taken to submit this report in today’s meeting with the Provincial Ministers.

In accordance with the 13 th amendment of the constitution, cooperative in the regions are coming under the purview of the Provincial Councils. Hence by working in close liaison with the Provincial Cooperatives, we will be able to do revolutionary changes.  Through this cooperative field, we will be able to provide useful services to people. Our youths are reluctant to joint this Cooperative movement. We have to prepare our self to increase employment opportunities to youths targeting  10 laths Government employments in next 5 years, he said. We will take steps to improve the cooperative movement by meeting together with Provincial Ministers once in three months.As the Sinhalese medium Cooperative school functioning in Polgolla,  a Tamil speaking Cooperative school will be established before the end of this year. Further instead of issuing Diploma in Cooperative field, we are in consultation with a Malaysian University to introduce a degree course. Finally he thanked all Provincial Councils Chief and other Ministers who attended this session.