Good news for coconut related exporters

Tax concessions from China:

THENNAKOON BANDARA-Moneragala Daily News Corr

Exporters of coconut- related products to China will be given tax concessions, said Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara. This was an outcome of a meeting held with Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Wu Jianghao recently.

Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara handing over a coconut sapling to a farmer. Picture by Thennakoon Bandara, Moneragala Daily News Corr

The Chinese government is ready to assist with coconut development in the country, he said.

The minister was speaking at a ceremony at Moneragala Hindikula Indrarama Temple to distribute coconut saplings among farmers recently. The government aims to preserve coconut lands and increase the productivity through the introduction of new plant varieties and methods of coconut cultivation, he said. This way we can uplift the country's economy, he added.

The minister said the government plans to plant 33 million coconut saplings within 2011- 2016 under the Kapruka Purawara Project.

He said the ministry also plans to utilize each part of the coconut tree to produce items with economic value. The Kapruka Nipeum Piyasa where coir based products are manufactured is a good example, Minister Pushpakumara said. The coconut development officers educated the farmer community on technological aspects of cultivating coconuts at the meeting.

About 65,330 coconut saplings were distributed among farmers in 16 Grama Niladari Divisions in the Moneragala Divisional Secretariat area.

Rev. Gonatalawe Rathanasiri and Uva Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Saliya Semeda addressed the meeting. Uva Provincial Councillor Chandana Welivita, Moneragala Pradeshiya Sabha members, coordinating secretary K. M. Madduma Bandara, Coconut Development Regional Manager D. M. Jayanama, Samurdi officers and Grama Seva officers also participated.