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| Tuesday, 19 October 2004 |
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| Co-ops instrumental in rice price reduction : Devananda by Nadira Gunatilleke The Co-operative Movement in Sri Lanka played a major role in bringing down the price of rice, Agriculture Marketing Development, Co-operative Development, Assisting Education and Vocational Training and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister Douglas Devananda said. "Rice is the staple food of Sri Lankans. The price of rice in Sri Lanka went up by 50 per cent recently due to the prolonged drought. "The Government faced severe criticism for not bringing it down. It is at this juncture that the co-operative sector voluntarily rectified the situation. The Co-operative sector with the government's approval imported rice and duty was waived on request. Today we can see the results; the price of rice has come down considerably and it is the Co-operative Movement that saved the day," the Minister said. He was addressing the inaugural session of the International Consumer Co-operative Consumer Seminar at Hotel Galadari, Colombo.It was hosted by the International Co-operative Alliance and Asia Pacific Region. Devananda said the`Co-operative Movements and Democratic Governments' have many things in common. "Both are democratically controlled, bear collective responsibility all guided by ethical values and have to face economic and social challenges," the Minister said. He said the Co-operative Movement, the people's enterprises, has today emerged as one of the largest democratic institutions in the world, having a membership of over 800 million. It had proved to be economically competitive with multinational enterprises and has played the vital role as a conduit for the small producers to reach much wider and global market, Devananda said. He said in the past too, the Co-operatives executed many such rescue missions and in the process had even suffered financial losses. Devananda said the Co-operative Movement and democracy emerge from the human enthusiasm of caring for others and have as their aim the delivery of tangible economic and social benefits to their member communities. "From the time I became the Minister in charge of Co-operative Development about six months ago, I have taken action to revamp the Co-operative sector in Sri Lanka which suffered many setbacks over the past several years," the Minister said. Regional Director, International Co-operative Alliance, Asia Pacific Region, Shil Kwan Lee, Agriculture Marketing Development, Co-operative Development Ministry Secretary K. Mahanadana, Ministry Additional Secretary S.A.S. Padmasiri, National Cooperative Council Chairman Bandu Ranawake and several others also spoke. |
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