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

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I table the answer.

¶ 02 Answer tabled:

¶ 03 (a) (i) There are no co-operative rural bank branches registered within the Western Province Department of Co-operative Development. However, 38 Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies (MPCSs) and 01 Banking Society are registered and operating under that Department, and within those societies 505 rural banks are operating.

¶ 04 (ii) Western Province MPCS rural bank branches as at 2025.12.31: - Colombo District: 142 - Gampaha District: 259 - Kalutara District: 104 Total: 505

¶ 05 (iii) There are no branches in a non-operational state. Owing to financial difficulties, 13 branches of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia MPCS and 11 branches of the Maharagama MPCS faced difficulties in repaying deposits. Through recovery of overdue loans issued by rural bank branches and disposal of fixed assets, 13.5% of deposits have been repaid in Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia, and a further 38.5% is available with the society and being paid. In Maharagama, 18.5% has been repaid and funds sufficient to pay a further 4% are available.

¶ 06 Further repayments will continue under this process. If persons responsible for financial crises leading even to non-repayment of deposits are identified, inquiries are being conducted under Regulation 47/2 of the Western Province Co-operative Societies Statute, and based on complaints and audit findings, the CID is also conducting investigations.

¶ 07 (b) Not applicable.