New laws to stop felling coconut trees without permission: Minister
Posted on March 16th, 2021
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
New laws will be introduced to stop the felling of coconut trees without permission in the future, Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Minister Ramesh Pathirana said.
While addressing a coordinating meeting at Gampaha District recently, the Minister pointed out that there is a huge demand for local coconut harvest in the international market and therefore, the coconut cultivation in the country should be increased.
“It is essential to increase coconut cultivation in the country. We need to restrict the allotment of coconut cultivation lands and we will be doing it in a very systematic manner,” he said.
“At present, permission is required for coconut land allotment in parts for more than 10 acres, but the Ministry is hoping to reduce it to 1 hectare in the future,” the Minister added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)