Akuressa MPCS: SLPP bid to oust Rajapaksa backed by JVP fails

By Priyan De Silva

A group backed by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) failed to oust the current management board of the Akuressa Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society chaired by W. T. K. Rajapaksa at Saturday’s election.

Of the 58 cooperatives which make up the Akuressa MPCS, Rajapaksa and his allies backed by the JVP-led Committee to Safeguard the Cooperative Movement gained control of 38. Of the 100 representatives elected to the Akuressa MPCS 70 are supportive of Rajapaksa’s group.

A tense situation arose when the results of the tightly contested Akuressa Cooperative Society election were announced as Rajapaksa and his team had won all nine seats.

At the last Parliamentary election in August 2020, the SLPP obtained 73.63% of the votes in the Matara District and was able to secure six out of seven seats in the district.

In the Akuressa electorate, the SLPP gained 74.28% (51,167) of the total number of valid votes.

Rajapaksa was appointed the Chairman of the MPCS in 2005 on an initiative taken by the JVP while the cooperative society was on the brink of bankruptcy. He turned it around.

Today, the Akuressa MPCS has assets in excess of Rs. 3000 million including investments in retail outlets, a restaurant, a tea estate, and public transport.

Rajapaksa said the construction of a hospital was on the cards and a land had already been purchased for that purpose.