Good export market for coconut products
by Naalir Jamaldeen
The Coconut Development Authority (CDA) has launched a program in
Bomiriya, Kaduwela to produce activated carbon from burnt coconut
shells, Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister A.P.
Jagath Pushpakumara said.
He said that teams will be deployed on a contract basis in each
Divisional Secretariat Division in the Colombo district to collect
coconut shells. An officer from the CDA will supervise the production
activities.
Awareness campaigns will be conducted to impress on the people the
importance of this project, the Minister said.
CDA chairman Aruna Gunawardena said that Rs. 9.7 billion in foreign
exchange has been earned by exporting activated carbon. The Coconut
Development and Janatha Estates Development Ministry has also started
cultivating coconut from 2011 till 2016. Four million coconut trees were
planted in 2011.
Sri Lanka's pure coconut oil has a good market in many foreign
countries, as it has been found good is for health, the Minister said.
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