The Hon. Dilip Wedaarachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to present a few proposals at Committee Stage on the Votes of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development.

¶ 02 First, on village-level cooperative programs: I urge the Minister to rapidly activate a Rural Cooperative Programme nationwide. In the 1977–1980s under J. R. Jayewardene, village cooperatives functioned excellently, supplying household consumables cleanly and affordably. Under President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s “Jana Saviya,” Rs. 25,000 vouchers were provided via cooperatives, enabling monthly needs—kerosene, bulbs, lamps—everything was available at the village cooperative. Revive this model. Some rural cooperatives have collapsed; rehabilitate them swiftly.

¶ 03 The late Joseph Michael Perera initiated rural fishermen’s cooperatives—today cooperatives form a significant economic pillar; e.g., Tangalle Fishermen’s Cooperative has strong finances. Fisheries cooperatives lie under Provincial Councils; bring them under the national framework, integrate rural fisheries organizations with fisheries cooperatives and craft a unified program.

¶ 04 On ongoing cooperative elections: although the NPP won 6.8 million votes nationally, in cooperative elections the SJB is winning about half of the institutions. In Hambantota District we have also won many cooperatives. Regarding the Weeraketiya Multi-purpose Cooperative Society: its election was held on 16 March 2025 despite written instructions. The Additional Elections Commissioner informed that since local authority elections would be held in May 2025, cooperative elections after 09 March 2025 should not be held. The Hambantota Assistant Elections Commissioner also wrote on 11 March 2025 that, as local authority elections had been announced, cooperative elections and general meetings could not be permitted until those elections were concluded. Despite letters on 2, 11 and 13 March 2025, the Weeraketiya MPCS election was held on the 16th. Hon. Minister, this is your second “terror” act—first was during the presidential election where nine teachers violated election law; the Hambantota Election Office wrote to the Minister of Education to hold disciplinary inquiries, but no action ensued.

¶ 05 [The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe intervenes: nomination period for local authorities closes on the 20th; the letters advise postponement but do not impose an absolute prohibition.]

¶ 06 Even so, written instructions cited that since local authority polls were proclaimed, cooperative elections and AGM meetings could not be permitted until after the polls. Those directives were violated when the Weeraketiya election was held on 16 March. I request the Minister to inquire and ensure compliance with election law and guidance.

¶ 07 Thank you.