Cabinet nod to import coconuts and coconut products equivalent to 200 million coconuts

The Secretaries to the Ministries of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development as well as Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities were ordered at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held of
27.01.2025 to prepare a methodology by inquiring all relevant parties regarding the possibility of immediately importing coconut kernels and other coconut related raw materials adhering to the legal provisions applicable at present so that an increased amount of local coconut harvest can be utilized for the industries utilizing coconut as a raw material temporarily as a remedy to the crisis in the market for
use in the local consumption due to insufficient coconut production in the country.

Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture, Coconut Research Institute, Coconut Development Authority, Plant Quarantine Service and Sri Lanka Standards Institution jointly have prepared and submitted guidelines
applicable to import of chilled coconut kernel and dried coconut pieces with coconut (non – copra) husk, coconut milk / coconut milk powder and desiccated coconut.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted their concurrence to the joint proposal forwarded by the Ministers of Industries and Entrepreneurship
Development as well as Plantation and Community Infrastructure Facilities to take measures to import a capacity equal to 200 million coconuts of coconut kernel related products and dried coconut pieces
with coconut (non – copra) husks for manufacturing coconut oil adhering to the given guidelines.