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B/N 892–Visvalingam Veerasingam

Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has issued a new postage stamp in the denomination of Rs. 10.00 on 27th May, 2016 to commemorate Mr. V. Veerasingam.

Date of Issue:

2016-05-27

Denomination: Rs.10.00
Catalogue No.

CSL 2164

Stamp Designer. Mr. A. Rasiah
Sheet Composition:

20 stamps per sheet



First Day Cover

 


Visvalingam Veerasingam
FATHER OF THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN SRI LANKA

He was born on 07th July 1892 at Manipay in Jaffna. He obtained a B.A. degree from the Ceylon University College. He stared his career as teacher and retired as principal in 1952. He played a key role in the co-operative movement in Sri Lanka. He was the first President of the Co-operative Societies Federation, Jaffna District, a position he held until his death.

He explored the need to establish a national level organization to manage Co-operatives. Looping Contemporaries Island wide, he establish the first national All Ceylon Co-operative Federation in 1955 for which; without race, religion and regional differences he was collectively elected the first president. Today it is called the Sri Lanka National Co-operative Council.

Through his efforts, the first Co-operative hospital in Sri Lanka was establish in 1936 in Moolai in Jaffna. This was a traibalzer to other Co-operative hospitals in Sri Lanka.

He was elected Member of Parliament for Vaddukoddai in 1952 and also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire and Justice of Peace for his compassionate service to empower the poor and the disadvantaged through mutual help.

This Sri Lanka Co-operative community honored him by naming him the 'Father of the Co-operative movement in Sri Lanka 'The late Mr. Edmund Wijesuriya, President of the All Ceylon Co-operative Federation and Member of Parliament for Maskeliya, said that Mr. Veerasingam bridged the North and South through his lofty Co-operative services. Late Professor K. Kailasapathy, Professor in Tamil, University of Jaffna called him a mobile Co-operative university.

A multistoried building 'Veerasingham Hall' in the city of Jaffna, with a public auditorium and office space was built and named in his honor and stands as testimony for this dedication and contribution towards the Co-operative movement.

He passed away on 05th December 1964.

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