Govt to rejuvenate co-op movement

Jayasiri Munesinghe reporting from Kandy

The co-operative movement which was severely affected by the political decisions of the past, will be rejuvenated by the present Government, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President was speaking at a ceremony at the President's House Kandy to donate 306 million to the co-operative societies to open 306 Co-op City super markets islandwide before the forthcoming New year, "Co-operative shops should be maintained well and nicely. New merc be followed as the private sector does, the President said.

The prices of essential food items should not be decided by the private sector super markets.

The co-operative movement should have a strong market share and it should be able to control the prices, President field. "We help by donating funds to the cooperative movement for a bright future of a peoples movement. We have no doubt that it will help to bring down the cost of living, the president said.

Referrning to the "Mahapola scholarship programme introduced by former minister late Lalith Athulathmudali, the president field Mahapola scheme is one of the greatest schemes which helps the University students

The Minister of Trade Marketing Development and co-operative Bandula Gunawardena said that for the first time in Sri Lanka central government donated such a big amount of money for the development of cooperative movement which has 306 societies and 11,000 Pradesika shops, assisting 6 million people.