COLOMBO – Sri Lanka will celebrate International Coconut Day on September 2, with islandwide coconut development programs and the setting up of a Business Facility Unit at the Coconut Processing Research Division, Coconut Research Institute in Lunuwila.
The Day’s main events will commence at the Institute in Lunuwila, at 8:30 a.m. under the patronage of Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation, and Arundika Fernando, State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah, Rubber Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Products Manufacturing and Export Diversification.
Among the special events organized to celebrate the International Coconut Day, is the introduction of an improved hybrid coconut variety and a Red beetle repellent produced by the Coconut Research Institute; the introduction of standard logo provided by the Coconut Development Authority for quality coconut oil; and the launch of the ‘Coconut App’ that incorporates the Coconut Development and Extension Services.
A media release from the Government Department of Information said a program will also be held to evaluate exporters who earned the highest foreign exchange by exporting coconut-based products in 2019.
It said a ‘Coconut Development Week’ will be observed, during which period a series of programs connected with the development and extension of coconut cultivation will be conducted by the Coconut Cultivation Board, including the planting of coconut saplings in premises of government institutions, temples and other places of worship, coconut cultivation development programs for farmers, mobile coconut sapling marketing programs, farmer meetings and field programs.
-ENCL