The ICA-AP & the Sri Lanka Consumer Co-operative Societies Federation Limited (COOPFED) Workshop on Development of Consumer Co-operatives was held from December 11 to 12, 2018 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The workshop hosted by COOPFED was attended by 98 delegates from consumer co-operative societies of India, Japan, Korea, Nepal, The Philippines and Sri Lanka.
ICA-AP identified the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries as the focal region, focusing on the need to develop consumer co-operatives in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The theme of the Workshop was on, “SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production,” and the objectives were to promote understanding of co-operative principles, to strengthen management of consumer co-operative societies and to understand the present status and problem areas of consumer co-operatives.
The inauguration ceremony began with a welcome speech by Mr D.S.K. Pathirana, CEO of COOPFED followed by opening remarks given by Mr. Haruyoshi Amano, Chairperson of the ICA Committee on Consumer Cooperation for Asia and the Pacific. The keynote speech was delivered by Mr. S.L. Naseer, the Co-operative Development Commissioner and Registrar of Sri Lanka. In the morning session, delegates were appraised on the Sri Lanka Co-operative movement. The first lecture on the "Outline of Co-operative Law in Sri Lanka" was delivered by Mr. Prasath Fernando, Uniliver, Sri Lanka and the second on "Consumer Co-operatives in Sri Lanka" by Mr. Kumara Suranga from COOPFED.
In the afternoon session, two international guest reports were presented on the activities of co-operatives centred around SDGs 12. The first was by Ms. Juhee Lee from iCOOP Korea on Non-GMO fed meat, Fair trade, Korean native wheat bakeries, etc.; and the second presentation was by Ms. Rowena O. Lazarte from C&S Coop Supermart, La Castellana Personnel Multi-purpose Co-operative Victo National, The Philippines. C&S Coop Supermart on the use of oxo biodegradable plastic bags, no sale of straws, zero waste of repackaged goods etc.
Field visit to the Negombo Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited.
On the second day, the delegates visited two Co-operative Supermarkets, the Negombo Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited and the Minuwangoda Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited. Both supermarkets are SDG 12 driven, and promote local agriculture products, reduce use of plastic bags and manage with lower power consumption.
