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Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said in Parliament yesterday that there is a mafia behind the prevailing coconut shortage in the local market.
He said that it is just an artificial shortage and there is no real shortage of coconuts in the country.
He was responding to a question by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Hambantota District Parliamentarian D. V. Chanaka.
Minister Samarasinghe said that a total of 2,684 million coconut harvest is expected in 2024. But there is a 14 percent decrease compared to last year.
The Minister said that the Government has taken measures to distribute coconut harvest of the state owned plantations through the Sathosa outlets.
He also added that Kurunegala and Chilaw Plantations will provide one million coconuts and the Coconut Development Authority is prepared to provide 500,000 coconuts for the next two weeks.
Ishara Mudugamuwa
