The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, our 2030 target is 4.2 billion nuts, up from about 2.7 billion by end-2024. To bridge this gap, we must promote new planting, replant senile stands, infill vacancies, and rehabilitate neglected estates. Last year Rs. 500 million was allocated to the Northern Coconut Triangle; by 2027 we aim to expand northern coconut lands to 40,000 acres. The President has allocated Rs. 600 million for this in the current Budget. Under the Home Garden Programme, five million coconut seedlings were distributed last year, with continuation this year.

¶ 02 Kurunegala, as part of the main triangle with Gampaha and Puttalam, has large estates, some owned by absentee owners. We are preparing a cluster-based rehabilitation programme to restore such lands. Moreover, subdivision of coconut lands is controlled under a Board in our Ministry; without its approval, subdivision is not permitted, and we act legally to prevent fragmentation.