Lanka to be leading country in coconut industry

Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara said that his ministry had drawn up plans to make Sri Lanka the leading country in the world in coconut products as well as in affiliated products.

The minister said so at a discussion held with coconut cultivators and exporters of coconut affiliated products held at the ministry auditorium, Colombo recently.

Minister Pushpakumara said that action had been taken by all the institutions under his ministry to draw up plans to ensure the development in coconut industry.

A five year plan, he added, had been formulated to carry out the programmes of the institutions.

This discussion was also attended by Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardene and Coconut Development Authority Chairman Sudath Handunge among other officials involved in the coconut development industry.

Vietnam help to develop coconut industry

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Vietnamese government has agreed to provide technical assistance to develop Sri Lanka’s coconut industry and exchange knowledge after discussions held with Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara recently at the ministry, a ministry official said.

A Vietnamese delegation recently visited Sri Lanka with the objective of exchanging knowledge and experience about coconut cultivation in Sri Lanka. They visited the Coconut Research Institute, Coconut Cultivation Board, laboratories and seed farms, the official said.

He added that the Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry has taken measures to increase coconut production and develop coconut related industries through various programmes.

About 0.7 million of the Sri Lankan population depend on coconut cultivation directly or indirectly.

Therefore, it is necessary to produce 3,500 million coconuts for local consumption and to produce coconut based products every year. Currently only 2,400-3,000 million coconuts are produced per year.