Global website for cooperative movement launched

Hathoon SHERIFFDEEN

WEBSITE: A global website for the co-operative movement was launched at the Global Human Research Development Conference, organised by International Co-operative Alliance, and held at the Indian National co-operative Union in Vamnicim, Pune.

Through this site knowledge on Co-operative systems and practices can be shared within the member countries, said the chairman, Sri Lanka Consumer Co-operative Society’s Federation Limited (COOPFED) U. K. D. Palitha Rohana.

The Global Human Research Development Conference was on the development and management of human resources in co-operative movements worldwide.

This event also strengthens the co-operative movements within countries through sharing of ideas and practices in co-operative movements worldwide, he said.

Three Sri Lankans from the co-operative movement participated in this workshop.

“We visited Maharashtra to look at the Co-operative Sugar Factory, Milk Co-operative and departmental co-operative stores. This gave us ideas to develop our present co-operative movements in Sri Lanka.

We also visited Bangalore Agriculture Bank and training centre on this trip, the General Manager COOPFED, D.S. K. Pathirana said.

“We have discussed with a software company in India to develop software for the whole island’s co-operative movements,” he said.

“At Chennai we had a discussion on importing essential items such as sugar, potatoes, dhal, chillies, Bombay onions, red onions during the period of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year.

Apart from this COOPFED is planning to open a stores for Uni-Lever products to supply the goods to Nuwara-Eliya, Moneragala and Badulla districts. This will enable the co-operative movements to develop fast, Pathirana said.