International Co-operative Day:

National celebrations on grand scale

S M Wijayaratne- Kurunegala Daily News corr

Ministry of Co-operatives and International Trade has made arrangements to commemorate the International Co-operative Day, that falls on July 02, on a grand scale in Kurunegala.

Sri Lankan ceremony for this year's International Co-operative Day has been named Isuru Saviya.

The year 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the Sri Lankan Co-operative movement.

This Co-operative National Festival will be conducted from June 28 to July 02, 2011 at Maligapitiya of Kurunegala and it is conducted as an exhibition of trade and educational significance.

The chief guest of this festival is President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, Ministry Secretaries and other government officials will also participate.

Sports and literary competitions and community service programmes will also be held at provincial and national level to coincide with this important international event.

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando speaking at a media briefing said that a special ceremony to pay tribute to senior members and pioneers of the Sri Lankan Co-operative movement would be held on the final day.

Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Secretary Sunil S Sirisena said that 300,000 new members will be enrolled to the Co-operative movement this year.