Transforming coops to peoples movement under way

By L S A Wedaarachchi

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Several important changes have to be made to transform the Cooperative Movement to a genuine peoples movement, said Trade, Marketing Development Cooperatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

Cooperative Ministers of Provincial Councils will attend a special meeting in Anuradhapura on May 31 followed by a pinkama where cooperative activists will participate.

The Cooperative minister said that the Cooperative Movement has an important role to paly as a people’s movement. In addition to the private and public sector the cooperative sector can also work for the prosperity and well-being of the society, he said.

North Central Province Cooperatives, High ways and Power Minister H. B. Semasinghe said that arrangements have been made by the Cooperative Minister of the North Central Province for the Provincial Cooperative Ministers’ meeting in Anuradhapura. Most of the “Coop city” super shops under the multi purpose cooperatives sectors M. P. C. S. of the North Central Province have been set up, he said.

It is vital to change the present attitude of some top level cooperative activities to transform the Cooperative Movement to a People’s movement. A training program for Chairmen, General Managers and Coop City managers has been already conducted.

Training programs for the UVA and Sabaragamuwa provinces had been conducted and the training programs for the other provinces will continue said, Secretary Trade, Marketing Development Cooperatives and Consumer Affair, Ministry Dr. R. M. K. Ratnayake.