PEOPLE’S ECONOMIC FORUM, the annual conference organized by SANASA International (PVT) Ltd was successfully held on August 26th at Colombo Hilton, with the attendance of a significant group of people representing public, private, and cooperative sectors.

The theme of this year was “Building an Inclusive Economy”.

As the convener of the conference, Ms. Samadanie Kiriwandeniya, the managing Director of SANASA International highlighted the importance of engaging with and including the micro/small entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers when designing national economic policies of a country. Cooperatives and Social enterprises have been critical in playing this role and the objective of the conference is to highlight the contribution and the potential of this sector to the researchers, development drivers, and policymakers.

Delivering the Key Note Address, Dr. Wagisha Gunasekera, the Chief Economist of the United Nations Development Fund stated that building an inclusive economy requires the change in the entire thinking process of the nation.  She explained how nations can flourish with strategic long term planning, and elaborated further with examples from countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Speaking on the event Dr. P.A Kiriwandeniya, the leader of SANASA movement presented to the audience the contribution of the cooperative sector to the development of the rural economy over the past 100 years.  He further stated that the cooperatives cannot and should not be ignored in the national planning and that the cooperatives should be facilitated to play a better role by the regulators and policymakers.

Mr. Sarath Weerasiri, the chairman of the National Cooperative Council stressed the need for cooperative law reforms as the existing law has not been changed over five decades.  The cooperative Commissioner Mr. Keerti Gamage in his message recognized the cooperative sector as a sleeping giant.  He stated that many new reforms and changes will happen soon to support the cooperative sector play a better and bigger role.

Mr. Balu Aiyer addressing the conference stated the importance of cooperative enterprise in the rebuilding of nations after the financial crisis, and that the International cooperative alliance will continue to support the Sri Lankan cooperative sector in the efforts they have taken to rebuild the economy.

Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, the Chairman of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement shared the problems Sri Lankan community is facing in the health sector and the critical challenges that need to be tackled as a country amidst the economic crisis.  He insisted on the importance of addressing the governance issue while coming up with solutions in the citizens’ space.

Mr. Sudha Karan from Northern Cooperative Development Bank, Mr. Upali Herath the former Regional Advisor on HRD and Consumer Cooperation at the ICA Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific, Mr. Navindra Liyanarachchi, the MD of SLIN, Dr. Ahilan Kadiragamar from Jaffna University, Mr.Ubert Boirard from International Fund for Agriculture Development and Ms. Lany Rebagay from Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Agriculture also addressed the conference and delivered their messages on building an inclusive economy. The conference ended with a promise to collaborate for a better and bigger mission that can support the nation come out from the impasse and move to a better destination.