Sri Lanka launches programme to establish 250 king coconut villages

Sri Lanka will launch a national programme on Wednesday to establish 250 “Ceylon King Coconut Villages” over the next three years, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Community Infrastructure said.

The programme aims to expand king coconut cultivation, increase production and productivity, and strengthen international markets for king coconut and related products.

Under the plan, 75 villages will be established this year, followed by 80 in 2027 and 95 in 2028.

The Government aims to increase Sri Lanka’s annual king coconut harvest by 25 million nuts and raise export earnings from king coconut and related products to more than US$12 million by 2030.

Farmers will receive a subsidy of Rs. 700 per tree to rehabilitate existing king coconut trees.

New saplings, which have a market value of around Rs. 750, will be provided to farmers at a concessionary price of Rs. 150.

The first 75 villages will be established across 17 districts, including Monaragala, Matara, Kurunegala, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Galle, Batticaloa and Kandy.