The launch of the Kalutara City Branch Office will enable SEEDS – the economic arm of the Sarvodaya Movement – to serve its clients in that area more effectively and efficiently, said the Managing Director of SEEDS, Mr.Shakila Wijewardena. Addressing the opening ceremony of the branch office on Tuesday, 5th January, 2010, he observed that the strong representation of women in the Sarvodaya societies of the Kalutara District was a healthy sign, which speaks well for the families of these people as well. He pointed out that when members invest money in the societies, the most important factor is the trust they place in the society and this has to be upheld so that the people will never be disappointed.

Mr.Wijewardena noted that the mission of SEEDS was not only to help the societies develop economically, but embraced a broader development approach which enabled the membership to move towards ethical/moral development as well as cultural, social, spiritual and political development. For over 50 years, Sarvodaya has promoted this concept of development successfully to alleviate poverty among Sri Lanka's rural masses, thereby enabling people to secure sustainable livelihoods.

“Despite adverse financial condition and at a time when large financial institutions were beset with problems and were moving from a bad-to-worse situation, SEEDS has held its ground and has developed slowly and steadily, without profiting unfairly,” said the Chairman of SEEDS, Daya Muthukumarana. Explaining the future plans of SEEDS, he said that the organization planned to register with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as a financial institution. In this regard, it is vital that Sarvodya Shramadana Societies hold their AGMs on time and subject their accounts to be audited. Once these matters are addressed, we could expect significant development in future, Mr.Muthukumarana added.

He further said that society could be developed by providing the necessary training and by developing the human resources. In this aspect, SEEDS has achieved much in comparison to other organizations. He commended the skills and efforts of the office bearers of Sarvodya societies, which helped to mobilize savings. This was possible due to the organized approach of the office bearers of the societies, Mr.Muthukumarana emphasized.

Deputy Managing Director of SEEDS, Emil Anthony said that the Kalutara branch was the 47 th branch office of SEEDS, which also maintains 26 district offices. With these district and branch office network, He commended the District Manager of Kalutara M.A.B.S. Attanayaka for his efforts in organizing and in giving leadership to the SEEDS staff in the district. The society at Alubomulla belonging to the Kalutara District has risen from humble beginnings to become the second best society among the Sarvodaya societies in the country and is only second to Pore, which is of the best managed societies situated in the Colombo district. This has become possible only due to the commitment of the leadership and the office bearers, he added.