200 million coconuts to be imported from Indonesia .

The government hopes to import coconut products from Indonesia to alleviate the shortage of coconut in the country.

Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti and Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyaratne are scheduled to present a joint cabinet paper in this regard this week.

However, the government has decided to allow only the re-export of the coconuts imported in this way. A quantity of coconut corresponding to 200 million coconuts will be allowed to be imported under the three categories of coconut milk, flour and chilled coconut pulp.

For this, a committee will be formed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure and the Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, and the committee is scheduled to recommend the quantity of coconut required for each institution.

That quantity of coconut will be imported as per the approval of the committee. The decision was taken to protect the industry as the current coconut harvest is not sufficient for coconut and related products until April, the report said.

In addition, work is underway to grant the necessary permission for the import of non-copra, dried or shredded coconut pieces for the local coconut oil industry. The required quantity will also be decided by a committee.