HOUSING PROJECTS LED TO COCONUT PRICE HIKE

Says main reason for current shortage is destruction of plantations for housing projects

Strict legislative measures would be taken soon by the Government to restrict the use of coconut lands for housing projects, while a National Land Policy would also be introduced, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka said.

Minister Ranawaka noted that the main reason for the current shortage and high price of coconut in the domestic market was the destruction of coconut plantations for housing projects. He added that nearly one million coconut trees have been cut to build houses in the last decade alone.

“The long drawn droughts in the last few years have also contributed to drop the coconut harvest sharply. If we had a proper water management, housing and land policy, we would not have suffered the present predicament of rice and coconut shortages. That is why Sri Lanka needs a comprehensive and modern land, housing and water management policy that addresses current requirements of the country,” Minister Ranawaka stressed.

Minister Ranawaka pointed out that inflation rate has increased to 9% at the moment according to the Central Bank statistics. In the past, the main contributory factor for the rise of inflation was the price of fuel. But in this instance, the price of rice and coconut has caused a big impact to increase the COL. If Sri Lanka had a pragmatic water and land policy both losses would have been avoided,” Minister Ranawaka said. The long drawn droughts in the last few years have also contributed to drop the coconut harvest sharply. If we had a proper water management, housing and land policy, we would not have suffered the present predicament of rice and coconut shortages. That is why Sri Lanka needs a comprehensive and modern land, housing and water management policy that addresses current requirements of the country

“Droughts and floods are not something new or unprecedented to Sri Lanka. These natural disasters have been experienced by our ancestors from the prehistoric time. But they have managed to control and preserve water through their water management technology and they produced all foods they required around the year with the backing of the ruler or the king. Therefore, a clear-cut national land and water management policy is the need of the day,” he said.

Minister Ranawaka pointed out that the felling of coconut trees and denuding vast coconut plantations in a haphazard manner for industrial and housing projects also had a negative impact on the environment with ultimate results of droughts and floods.