This Government restored the cooperative movement which was destroyed by ‘economic assassins’ and utilized it to speed up the development drive of the country, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the gathering of the centenary celebrations of the Co-operative Movement of Sri Lanka in Kurunegala on July 02.

The new well-organised cooperative movement will greatly help to improve the per capita income of the country to four thousand or five thousand US dollars, while taking measures to improve the income of individuals of the country, he added.

A series of programmes including trade fair and sports events were held at Kurunegala from 28th June to 02nd July 2011 in this connection.