‘Maximum retail price of coconut should be Rs.70’

By Thisari Walawege  

Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah and Rubber Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing & Export Diversification State Minister Arundika Fernando yesterday said the maximum retail price of a coconut should be at Rs.70 at  present.  

He told media that certain people, especially intermediate parties and coconut auctioneers, were exploiting the current situation and manipulating coconut prices unreasonably and the reality of the situation allowed the sale of coconut at maximum retail price of Rs.70 per coconut.  

The State Minister said the Chilaw Plantation Ltd and Kurunegala Plantation Ltd were selling coconuts at a wholesale price of Rs.50-60 per coconut and the government would take necessary steps to provide coconut to the market through them for a price of Rs.60.  

In addition he said that discussions would be held in the future regarding  stopping coconut auctions temporarily or at least introduce a control price for auctions.  
“We, as a government has taken all possible and necessary steps to control the price of coconut in Sri Lanka and to develop the coconut industry in the country,” he said.