The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, the answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Multi-purpose co-operative societies: 178. Co-operative bank societies: 2. Branches: Senehpura-Katiyawa Govijanapada Rural Co-operative Bank Society – 04 branches; Senapura Katiyawa Govijanapada Rural Co-operative Bank Co-operative Society [and] S/… [OCR overlap corrected: two co-operative bank societies with 4 and 3 branches respectively]. The other co-operative bank society has 03 branches. (ii) Procedure: 1) The society must first be registered. 2) Compliance with legal requirements, objectives, conformity with co-operative law and other laws, and economic/organizational capacity are assessed. 3) Required documents, with the recommendation of the Co-operative Development Officer, are obtained and registration is effected.

¶ 03 (b) (i) Yes. (ii) Saubhagya Co-operative Society Ltd. (SCD), North-Central Province: - Date of commencement: 10.11.2021 - Registration No.: NCP/COOP/002 - Address (current): 125/1A, Batticaloa Road, Polonnaruwa. - Previous address: No. 4/1, Western Athumalpitiya, Polonnaruwa.

¶ 04 Anuradhapura District Rural Capital Development Co-operative Society Ltd. (RCD): - Date of commencement: 30.12.2022 - Registration No.: A/1130 - Address (previous): No. 37, Kuda Kekirawa, Kekirawa. - Current address: Market Premises, Second Floor, Anuradhapura. (iii) Society members (ownership pertains to the registered societies). (iv) Yes. (v) Not applicable. (vi) No. (vii) Employees were recruited on the decisions of the respective Boards of Directors after interviews. With regard to Saubhagya Co-operative Society Ltd., the matter has been submitted to the Co-operative Employees Commission for approval by letter No. NCP/CCD/D1/05/70-IV dated 08.05.2025.

¶ 05 (c) Not applicable.