The principal institution directing, developing and regulating the cooperative sector of the Southern Province since 1930.
"To become the provincial leader in the cooperative sector by 2029."
"To provide a strong cooperative contribution to the national economy by directing the cooperative sector in line with state policies, in order to fulfil the economic, social and cultural needs of the community led by the cooperators of the Southern Province."
The Southern Province Department of Cooperative Development, which falls under the Southern Province Ministry of Agriculture, Farmer Development, Irrigation, Water Supply and Drainage, Food Supply and Distribution, Trade and Cooperative Development, is headed by the Commissioner of Cooperative Development and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, while the Deputy Commissioner's principal post is the Assistant Commissioner of Cooperative Development.
The Assistant Commissioner of Cooperative Development offices under the Southern Province Department of Cooperative Development are administered at district level, with offices located in the Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts.
Under the Commissioner of Cooperative Development and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, the department is staffed by the Deputy Commissioner of Cooperative Development, Assistant Commissioners of Cooperative Development, Accountant, Administrative Officer, District Cooperative Development Officers, Head Office Cooperative Development Officers, Development Officers, Cooperative Development Officers, IT Assistant, Management Assistant, Drivers and Office Support Staff.
The Department of Cooperative Development was established as a separate department in 1930, and the Cooperative Societies Ordinance No. 16 of 1936 was enacted to conduct department affairs in an orderly manner. This ordinance remained in force until the Cooperative Societies Law No. 05 of 1972 was enacted. The Cooperative Societies Law No. 05 of 1972, with amendments made by Acts No. 32 of 1983 and No. 11 of 1992, remained in force within the Southern Province until 2019. Under the Provincial Councils Act No. 12 of 1989, the subject of cooperatives was devolved to the provincial councils, and accordingly, on 01.04.2019, the Southern Province Cooperative Societies Charter No. 06 of 2019 was approved by the Southern Provincial Council.
The overall cooperative societies system - comprising various service cooperative societies, cooperative credit and thrift societies, industrial and production cooperative societies, fisheries cooperative societies, dispensary cooperative societies, festival service cooperative societies, and school cooperative societies, established to serve every walk of life of the people - is directed, advised, audited and supervised by the Southern Province Department of Cooperative Development, contributing to the economic, social, cultural and educational development of the people of the Southern Province.
Under this mandate, the Department of Cooperative Development carries out the developmental and statutory functions of registering, developing, auditing and investigating cooperative societies, conducting legal affairs, and creating awareness and providing guidance to the boards of directors, management committees and general body members of cooperative societies. A staff of 286, headed by the Commissioner of Cooperative Development and assigned to various positions, serves the Southern Province Department of Cooperative Development.