Reflections on the Past of the Dibbedda Thrift and Credit Cooperative Society Limited

On 2nd January 1949, less than a year after Sri Lanka gained independence from the British Crown, the Dibbedda Sanasa Society was formed. Its “Thimbirigeya” (first office) was a house called Cecilton in the beautiful village of Dibbedda. The Dibbedda Sanasa is another branch of the huge tree of the Sanasa movement that was started for the economic upliftment of the rural people.

This Dibbedda Sanasa Society was registered under C-1678 in the year 1949 itself and established its legal status. Although the number of members was 18 on the day of its inception, by the time of registration, the number of members had increased to about 50. The first president of the Dibbedda Sanasa Society was Dr. M.G. Fernando. The first secretary was W.L. Zoysa and the first treasurer was S. Milton Fernando.

The Dibbedda Sanasa, which marked a unique name in the village of Dibbedda and took steps towards the door of development year after year, was nourished by the immense courage of many eminent social activists. In this prosperous journey, social activists from the first president Dr. M.G. Fernando, Arthur Weerasuriya, Ranjith Weerasekara, L. Wyman Fernando, Bandusiri Zoysa, Gamini Fernando and the current president Malinga Nandasiri Zoysa have rendered their services. Also, the Honorable Secretaries, Welfare Officers and all the committee members were part of this noble task.

Our aim is to economically uplift the members by providing various loan schemes such as short-term loans, long-term loans, New Year loans, commodity loans and instant loans at a very low interest rates. The support provided by the Welfare Division for the member’s outings, almsgiving, meritorious deeds, death benefit payments, provision of festive items at very affordable prices, as well as the public work of Dibbedda village is extremely esteemed. The mission done by Sanasa to the village by conducting health clinics, repairing roads, providing scholarships, resolving problems with passenger transport buses, and establishing a post office is very clear.

The giant arm of a huge social service that has spread throughout the village has now become a huge shadow for the village of Dibbedda Thrift and Credit Cooperative Society Limited, which has been full of glorious pride for over 76 years, is an asset to Dibbedda in the truest sense of the word. A true friend to the villagers. May Dibbedda Sanasa, which is doing an invaluable service to its hundreds of members and the entire village community, prosper for many centuries.