Sri Lanka has one of the most vibrant cooperative landscapes in Asia and the Pacific. Today, 9,289 cooperatives bring together more than 10.15 million members, around 46 percent of the national population, and employ over 33,000 people. With assets of about 2 billion US dollars and savings of 1 billion US dollars, cooperatives are a significant pillar of the national economy.

Rooted in long traditions of mutual help, the movement has evolved from the first rural credit cooperative in 1906 to a diverse ecosystem spanning agriculture, retail, finance, and social services. The National Policy on Cooperatives adopted in 2019 provides an updated framework that links cooperatives more directly to sustainable and inclusive development.

On the ground, cooperatives are expanding opportunities for farmers, women and young people. From women’s savings and credit groups that support entrepreneurship, to milk producer cooperatives that are greening local value chains, to the Northern Cooperative Development Bank that is helping rebuild war affected communities, cooperatives are demonstrating their capacity to tackle poverty, inequality and climate risks in a practical way.

Sri Lanka’s cooperatives are also active partners in international cooperation and in the wider ICA Asia and Pacific network, including through long standing programmes and by hosting key regional events such as the 17th ICA Asia and Pacific Regional Assembly in Colombo in 2025. Together, they show how a strong cooperative system can drive a people-centred, resilient and inclusive economy.

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