PRESS RELEASE
Cooperatives Build a Better World: Sri Lanka Hosts the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly and 12th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Forum
Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26 November 2025: Sri Lanka warmly welcomes 450 cooperative leaders, members policymakers, researchers, and partners from 22 countries across Asia and the Pacific for the 17th Regional Assembly of the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), together with the 12th Asia Pacific Cooperative Forum and related events, from 24 to 28 November 2025 at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo.
Organized by ICA-AP, it is hosted by the National Cooperative Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), in close collaboration with Sri Lanka’s Department of Cooperative Development (DCD), SANASA Federation Limited, Matara District Cooperative Hospital Society Ltd, and the National Institute of Cooperative Development (NICD). Key programme partners include SANASA Campus and the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute for the 19th ICA Asia Pacific Research Conference and Young and Emerging Scholars (YES) Workshop, in collaboration with the ICA-EU Partnership on Cooperative Development.
This special Assembly takes place during the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025, under the overarching theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. Welcoming delegates to Colombo, Mr. G.D. Sarath Weerasiri, Chairman of NCCSL, called it a proud and historic day for Sri Lanka’s cooperative movement. With the backing of our government and the cooperation of national and international partners, we have been able to bring this global programme to our country and showcase our commitment to strengthening agriculture, development, and people-centered enterprises.”
Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President of ICA-AP, highlighted the global impact of cooperatives, citing a combined turnover of USD 2.7 trillion among the Top 300 cooperatives and stressing their vital role in delivering decent work, reducing poverty, and building resilient communities. He called for renewed cooperation and stronger multi-stakeholder partnerships across the Asia-Pacific.
Honorable Mr. Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, cited it as an honour for Sri Lanka to host these events in such an important year. He noted, “Our government has already begun major initiatives, from establishing 1,000 producers’ cooperatives to modernizing our cooperative legal framework, to ensure the movement thrives. We warmly welcome our international partners and look forward to deepening cooperation for the development of our region.”
Sri Lanka’s cooperative movement has a rich history, with its origins in the early twentieth century and a modern legal framework that recognises cooperatives as part of the country’s private sector. Today, the country is home to 9,289 registered cooperatives with more than 10 million members and over 33,000 employees, managing assets estimated at around two billion US dollars and mobilising close to one billion US dollars in savings. Operating across agriculture, fisheries, finance, retail, housing, health, and other sectors, Sri Lankan cooperatives play a vital role in poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
Joint Opening Ceremony: 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly and 12th Asia Pacific Cooperative Forum
The ICA-AP Regional Assembly is the highest governing body of ICA-AP, bringing together member organisations to discuss policy, approve recommendations from committees and networks, and elect the ICA-AP Regional Board. In Colombo, delegates will review regional priorities, consider policy resolutions, and elect the new Regional Board for the 2025 to 2028 term.
Aligned with the Assembly, the 12th Asia Pacific Cooperative Forum takes place under the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World: Strengthening Resilience, Sustaining Investment, and Smart Communication”, exploring how cooperatives can deepen resilience, access sustainable finance, and tell stronger stories to the public. The joint opening ceremony also featured two keynote addresses by Mr. Srinivas Tata, Director, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), Bangkok, and Prof. Ahilan Kadirgamar, Senior Lecturer, University of Jaffna, and Chairman of Northern Cooperative Development Bank.
The Forum is being complemented by a full week of sectoral and thematic meetings. The programme also features the ICA Asia Pacific Cooperative Excellence Awards 2025 and a study visit to Athanagalla Multi Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd to offer delegates first-hand insights into Sri Lanka’s cooperative innovation.
Opening Plenary: Cooperatives as Catalysts for a Better Future
The Joint Opening Ceremony will be followed by the Opening Plenary, “Cooperatives as Catalysts for a Better Future”. Chaired by Mr Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the International Cooperative Alliance, the plenary will reflect on the significance of IYC 2025, the role of cooperatives in economic democracy and social inclusion, and the policy conditions required to scale cooperative impact.
Plenary speakers include Ms Joni Simpson, Director of the ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Samadenie Kiriwandeniya, Managing Director of SANASA Federation Limited, Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali, Professor of Economics at UKM GSB, Malaysia, and Mr K J Patel, Managing Director of Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO). Together, they will share perspectives on how cooperatives can advance decent work, financial inclusion, climate resilient development, and cooperative-led investment across the region.
Throughout the week, the Assembly and Forum provide space for dialogue on issues such as resilient financing, progressive policy and legal frameworks, cooperative branding and communication, gender equality, youth inclusion and digital innovation, reaffirming the central role of cooperation in building a fairer and more sustainable world. The various sessions feature experts, academics, and practitioners from over 9 countries and international organizations.
About ICA-AP
Established in 1960 in New Delhi, India, the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) is one of the four regional offices of the International Cooperative Alliance. ICA-AP unites, promotes and develops cooperatives across Asia and the Pacific, representing 124 members from 29 countries, working in diverse economic sectors. Through the promotion of cooperative identity, advocacy, collaboration and capacity building, ICA-AP works to strengthen cooperatives as key actors for sustainable development, social inclusion and shared prosperity in the region. For further information about ICA-AP, please visit the ICA-AP website.
Media Contact
For any information related to this press release or media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Shivali Sarna
Lead, Communications and Membership Development, ICA-AP
Email: shivali.sarna@icaap.coop
