Various measures to boost coconut production - Plantation Industries Minister

Chaminda Perera

“The Government found no difficulty in getting the Budget passed by majority,” said Plantation Industries Minister D.M. Jayaratne.

The Minister distributed 5000 coconut saplings among families at Akkaraipattu in the Ampara district.

He said the Government has been further strengthened after the Budget.

“The Plantation Industries Ministry aims to promote and improve tea, rubber and coconut production which has become the fourth largest foreign exchange earner to the country,” said Minister Jayaratne. The Minister was speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Plantation Industries Ministry.

The Minister was honoured with the Deshabandu Shashana Keerthi Sri Janaranjana title by the Sri Lanka Ramanya Nikaya in recognition of his service to Buddhism during his political career spanning over 50 years.

“We should lay more emphasis on the promotion of the plantation industry through which everyone will benefit, he said.

“Soaring Coconut prices have become a big issue. Partitioning of coconut lands for sale and low coconut production have attributed to this situation.”

“The Ministry has implemented a series of programmes to overcome this situation. The Coconut Development Ministry takes great pains in exploring various means to boost coconut production which would definitely pave the way for price reduction,” he said.

“The Ministry has already launched a programme to cultivate rubber on 40,000 hectares and boost organic fertiliser production,” he said.

“The awarding of doctorates to people has become a big business. The present society has deteriorated so much that anybody could buy a doctorate. This trend should necessarily be changed to give proper recognition and acceptance to the learned,” he said.

“The Maha Sanga maintains a certain standard in recognising and conferring awards and honorary titles to outstanding personnel whose contributions have helped to uplift society,” he said

Coconut Development Minister Salinda Dissanayake also spoke.