Sri Lanka today marked a major step in modernizing its co‑operative movement with the launch of the National Digital Portal for Co‑operative Member Registration.
The ceremony was held under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Co‑operative Development Upali Samarasinghe, with Members of Parliament, senior ministry officials, co‑operative leaders from across the island, and a large gathering of members in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Samarasinghe said the portal is not merely a technical project but the first step in a national programme to modernize the co‑operative sector, strengthen transparency, and build public trust.
The launch coincides with this year’s International Co‑operative Day, celebrated under the theme “Co‑operatives for a Peaceful World.”
According to 2017 data, Sri Lanka has more than 14,000 registered co-operative organizations, of which 8,963 are active, with membership close to 8.7 million people. The sector provides employment to over 39,000 individuals, with significant participation by women.
The Ministry of Co‑operative Development noted that the absence of a unified, updated digital data system has long been a challenge for such a large movement.
The new portal will securely and systematically maintain member information in a single national database, improving policy formulation, planning, and public service delivery.
The ministry further said that plans are underway to expand the programme to include digital member identities, online services, digital payments, digital voting, integration of co‑operative banks, and the creation of a National Co‑operative Data Platform.
The government’s vision also includes attracting youth to the co‑operative sector, strengthening women’s entrepreneurship, establishing digital markets for rural products, and elevating the movement to international standards, it added. (Newswire)