Over 160,000 coconut trees cut down in Matara

P P G Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group correspondent

Over 162,570 fruit bearing coconut trees in the Matara district have been cut down due to the coconut leaves withering disease spreading in the district, a source at the Coconut Cultivation Board Matara District Office said.

He said at the rate of Rs 2,000 per tree, Rs 276.3 million has been paid as compensation to owners of coconut trees.

The source said when compared to previous years, with the cutting down of disease affected trees, the spread of the disease has been controlled to some extent in the Matara district.