Leaders of cooperatives in Jaffna called for the Sri Lankan government to provide compensation for losses incurred through looting and destruction of goods during three decades of armed conflict.
“In recognition of these losses, compensation should be provided by the Government, which can be utilised to increase production and create much needed employment across the district,” the Jaffna District Co-operative Council said in a statement, the Sunday Times reported.
“The poorer sections of our society have been trapped by high interest rate loans of microfinance institutions,” the council added.
"Co-operative rural banks and thrift and credit co-operative societies were a credible alternative and should be strengthened to provide rural credit," it added.