The monthly progress review meeting of the departments under the Northern Province Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Rehabilitation, Social Services, Cooperatives, Food Supply and Distribution, Industries, Entrepreneurship Development, and Commerce was held today – on Thursday (06 August 2026), at the Governor’s Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
At the meeting, the development projects being implemented through the Department of Industries, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Cooperative Development and the Cooperative Employees’ Commission, as well as the progress achieved for the year 2026, were reviewed in detail.
During the meeting, the construction of a new building under the Department of Industries to protect the Vavuniya Veppankulam Weaving Centre from flooding, as well as the arrangements for trade exhibitions to be held this year in the Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts, were reviewed. Furthermore, the Governor instructed officials to expedite activities carried out through the Department of Social Services, including improving elderly homes, providing self-employment assistance to persons with disabilities, and supplying essential equipment. The targets related to strengthening cooperative societies and producers’ societies in the cooperative sector were also discussed.
Expressing his views further, the Governor instructed that the low-interest loan scheme to be distributed through the Department of Industries be expedited and that it be ensured the loans reach eligible beneficiaries on time. He also emphasized the need to focus on establishing a separate unit within the Provincial Council in the future to administer loan schemes that encourage entrepreneurship. He further requested the submission of a report on the progress of entrepreneurs who had received grant funding in the past and pointed out the need for the Department of Industries to adapt its activities to current times in order to expand marketing opportunities for entrepreneurs in the province.
The Governor also commended the Palm and Coconut Resource Development Cooperative Societies under the Department of Cooperative Development for creatively showcasing their products. He requested that government departments be encouraged to purchase palm-based products in order to reduce plastic use and that arrangements be made to serve palm-based food products at government departmental events. Meanwhile, as Assistant Commissioners of Cooperative Development pointed out that toddy production had declined this year compared to last year, the Governor instructed that a study be conducted through the Palm Development Board to identify the reasons for the decline.
The discussion was attended by the Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Deputy Chief Secretary (Finance), the Director of the Provincial Department of Industries, the Commissioner of Cooperative Development, the Director of the Department of Social Services, the Secretary of the Cooperative Employees’ Commission, Assistant Commissioners of Cooperative Development and many others.
