CCB sells coconuts at Rs 28

Irangika RANGE

The Plantation Industries Ministry will sell coconuts at concessionary prices through the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) trade stalls. Acting Plantation Industries Minister Salinda Dissanayake opening the first trade stall attached to the CCB Head Office in Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha in Battaramulla said this move will prevent traders from increasing coconut prices haphazardly.

He said that the coconut prices have suddenly gone up in the market causing hardship to consumers.

This situation has been artificially created due to a certain trader's monopoly.

"The price of a coconut has gone up to Rs 40 in the market due to this monopoly. To break this monopoly, we will sell a coconut at Rs.28 through CCB trade stalls as a relief measure," he said.

CCB"s Chairman Sarath Keerthiratne said it was also decided to sell coconuts to consumers in Colombo and suburbs through CCB mobile lorries in weekends.

There is a decline in coconut harvest in September and October in each year resulting in increased coconut prices in the local market.

He said the CCB trade stalls are open daily from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. "We issue only ten nuts per consumer to avoid the traders buying stocks.

He said the Coconut Development Authority under the instructions of Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe is carrying out several programs to sell coconuts at fair prices to consumers.

The program will be expanded into all CCB branches island-wide to benefit the consumers.