LNP - Sri Lanka looks to turn to Indonesia for coconut product imports

To combat the current coconut shortage, Sri Lanka looks at importing coconut products from Indonesia, an official said. The minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi and Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure K. V. Samantha Vidyarathna was to submit a joint cabinet paper this week which was delayed due to re-assessment of the current measures to import coconut products. Chairman of the Coconut Development Authority Shantha Ranathunga said that the Cabinet paper was to include imports of coconut related products like kernels, coconut powder, and coconut milk which will mainly be imported from Indonesia as well as relevant authorities to conduct a study on conditions applicable for coconut imports without damaging the nut. However after several discussions the study on importing coconuts is to be abandoned in the cabinet paper as of now. “As per the research, Indonesia is the most suitable country to import coconuts products from” Mr. Ranathunga said. The Chairman also said that individual manufacturers will be allowed to import coconut related products as per the requirements. A total equivalent of 200 million nuts worth of coconut products is to be imported. He said the new cabinet paper only inclusive of imports of coconut products is to be submitted next week, the cabinet paper is most likely to be approved.