The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer to the Hon. Member’s supplementary question is as follows. The Ministry of Co-operative Development has 70 registered co-operative societies. Under the Thirteenth Amendment, all powers have been devolved subject-wise to the Provinces. Accordingly, within Provincial subjects, there is a Provincial Co-operative Development Commissioner. Through the co-operative societies established under that Commissioner, rural banks have been set up. Recently, both the rural banks and the Central Government have discussed this and have engaged to amend certain rules and regulations, intervening to some extent. We are currently examining whether the Central Government can intervene regarding the functions of rural banks. If that can be confirmed to a certain extent, we will be in a position to do what you propose. However, on our part, we are working to strengthen production. The Department of Co-operative Development of the Central Government has intervened to establish 1,000 production co-operative societies, and has now commenced interventions to contribute to production. Accordingly, we are moving towards the target of establishing 1,000 production-oriented societies. Our intervention in that regard is already underway. We also expect to be involved in the work done through rural banks in the future.