News

Decrease in fertiliser input leads to drastic drop in coconut output

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/6

Thilina Walpola

Climate change and wild animals also blamed

By Rathindra Kuruwita

A decrease in the fertiliser input has been one of the main reasons for a drop in the coconut harvest, Chairman of the Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB), Saman Dewage says,

“There was no fertiliser for about two years and now the price of fertiliser is very high,” he said.

Extreme weather events due to climate change also contributed to the decline in coconut production. “Pollination drops significantly when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius,” he said.

Dewage also said that a large number of coconuts are destroyed by wild animals such as monkeys and giant squirrels. Around 200 million nuts are destroyed each year by these animals, he said.

“You also need to replant coconuts to replace the old trees. According to our calculations cultivators need to replant about 10 percent of the trees each year. It has become hard to protect new plants because of porcupines, wild boars, and wild elephants. When coconut trees are young, we have to worry about red and black weevils. It has become difficult to control these pests because agricultural inputs are extremely expensive,” he said.

Dewage said Sri Lanka usually produces around three billion coconuts annually and it is highly unlikely that this number will be reached in 2025.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Coconut Development Authority (CDA), Shantha Ranathunga said that Sri Lanka earns about 700 million dollars from coconut exports annually. The export of coconuts have increased significantly over the years, he said.

“Compared to 2023, our exports have risen by about 21 percent. In 2023, we made about 700 million dollars, by the end of 2024, we expect to make 850 million dollars,” he said.

Director of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) Dr. N. S. Aratchige said that the coconut tree is highly sensitive to the fluctuations of weather patterns. If the rainfall of a month is under 100 millimeters, it is considered a serious drought for coconut cultivation, she said. There is also no propagation if the temperature exceeds 33 degrees Celsius. “CRI has recommended several varieties and on average a cultivator has the potential to extract about 80 nuts per year. Some of our hybrid varieties, when managed under recommended conditions, yield about 130 nuts per year,” she said.

She said while the coconut cultivator can’t change weather, he or she can take steps to mitigate the drought. “We can address droughts by following techniques to retain moisture. We can reach the potential of extracting 80 to 130 nuts if we apply the right inputs and if we retain moisture in the soil.

“The world average is 5,000 nuts per hectare. We produce about 7,000 nuts per hectare. India has achieved high productivity in recent years and produces about 9,000 nuts per hectare on average. There are some states in India that extracts about 15,000 nuts per hectare. How have they done this? By using fertilizer and through irrigation systems. The Indian state provides huge subsidies for fertilizer and irrigation systems. For example, coconut farmers get free electricity if they use new irrigation methods. On the other hand, our input costs are high and we hardly use irrigation systems, we produce about 60 nuts per tree annually although we have the potential to produce 80 to 130 nuts per tree,” she said.

Aratchige also said that in most coconut producing countries the crop damage by mammalian species is low compared to Sri Lanka. However, the damage caused by the coconut mite and red and black weevils are the same as Sri Lanka, she said.

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CIABOC tells court Kapila gave Rs 60 mn to MR and Rs. 20 mn to Priyankara

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/20

Thilina Walpola

USD 2.3 billion Airbus deal

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena had admitted delivering a total of Rs. 60 million in three instalments of Rs. 20 million each to the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Rs. 20 million to Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne. The funds were allegedly linked to the controversial Airbus aircraft deal.

Chandrasena, who was arrested on March 12 over bribery allegations connected to the deal, was further remanded until April 2 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. He was produced before court yesterday by prison officials.

Investigators say Chandrasena is accused of accepting a US$2 million bribe in the transaction and conspiring to secure a total of US$16 million. They also allege that €1.45 million was transferred to a bank account in Singapore.

Prosecutors told court that Chandrasena had created a shell company in Brunei in his wife’s name to channel the kickbacks into its Singapore account.

The case stems from a 2013 agreement in which SriLankan Airlines purchased 10 aircraft valued at US$2.3 billion. Court proceedings are ongoing.The court fixed the date for March 24 to consider evidence with regard to issue warrants for Priyanka Neomali Wijearatne and Shamindra Rajapaksa.

By AJA Abeynayake

News

Opposition moves no-faith motion against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/20

Thilina Walpola

Kumara Jayakody

Opposition lawmakers yesterday handed over a no-confidence motion against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody to Speaker Dr Jagath Wickramaratne over alleged irregularities in coal procurement, etc.

Chief Opposition Whip MP Gayantha Karunathilaka submitted the motion to the Speaker yesterday morning. It has been signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, members of the SJB, and several other Opposition representatives.

The motion accuses the Minister of failing to fulfil his primary responsibility of ensuring the procurement of adequate and high-quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant at Norochcholai. It states that such negligence in managing a critical national energy asset amounts to a serious breach of ministerial responsibility.

It further notes that the Minister has been formally charged before the Colombo High Court by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) under Section 70 of the Bribery Act. The charge relates to an alleged act of corruption during his tenure as Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The Opposition maintains that the combination of administrative failures and pending legal proceedings undermines the Minister’s ability to hold office, warranting a vote of no confidence.

By Saman Indrajith

News

NJC takes up cudgels on behalf of Sallay, who played pivotal role in combating terrorism

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/20

Thilina Walpola

The National Joint Committee (NJC) has raised concerns over the arrest and detention of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, calling for due process and caution in handling sensitive national security matters.

Issuing a statement signed by Dr Anula Wijesundera, the NJC has said the former senior military officer served the country for decades in the armed forces and intelligence services during critical periods of the conflict against terrorism.

While acknowledging that all citizens are subject to the law, the Committee has stressed that due process, fairness and respect for institutions tasked with safeguarding national security must be upheld.

Full text of the statement: The National Joint Committee (NJC) expresses deep concern regarding the recent arrest and detention of Retired Major General Suresh Sallay under a detention order.

Major General Sallay served Sri Lanka for decades in the armed forces and in the intelligence services during some of the most challenging periods of our country’s struggle against terrorism.

While all citizens are subject to the rule of law, the NJC believes that due process, fairness, and respect for the institutions that safeguard national security must be upheld at all times.

Particularly troubling are reports that sensitive intelligence-related details, including references to intelligence structures and personnel, are being publicly discussed in ways that could compromise operational security. The exposure of intelligence methodologies or personnel in the public domain can place lives at risk and weaken the effectiveness of national security institutions.

Sri Lanka has already experienced the grave consequences of such actions in the past. The Millennium City incident in 2002 led to the exposure of intelligence operatives who had been working against terrorist networks. Following the disclosure of their identities, many of those officers became targets of retaliation by the LTTE, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous lives and the dismantling of critical intelligence networks at a time when the nation most needed them.

It is therefore imperative that lessons from that painful episode are not forgotten.

It is also important to recall that prior investigations and public records confirm that intelligence warnings regarding potential attacks were received in Sri Lanka before 21 April 2019. The tragic loss of life that followed was therefore not the result of an absence of intelligence, but rather the failure of responsible authorities to act effectively upon those warnings in time to prevent the attacks. The numerous Commissions and Committees have identified these individuals and recommended action against them.

Equally relevant to the current public discussion is the factual record that Major General Suresh Sallay was neither serving as the Head of the State Intelligence Service nor present in Sri Lanka at the time when the attacks took place.

The NJC urges all authorities involved in the present investigation to ensure that the legal process is conducted with the utmost professionalism, transparency, and responsibility, while safeguarding sensitive national security information.

At a time when Sri Lanka continues to face evolving security challenges, the morale and integrity of the armed forces and intelligence services must be protected. Public confidence in these institutions is essential to the safety and stability of the nation.

The National Joint Committee therefore calls upon all responsible stakeholders — including investigators, public officials, media institutions, and civil society — to act with caution and responsibility so that the pursuit of justice does not inadvertently undermine the very institutions entrusted with protecting the country.

Sri Lanka’s patriots must remain vigilant to ensure that the sacrifices made by our armed forces and intelligence officers are not disregarded, and that national security institutions are not weakened in ways that could endanger the country in the future.