Sri Lanka, March 11 -- In 2024, Sri Lanka experienced a nearly 10% decline in its anticipated coconut harvest, which emerged as the primary driver of the surge in coconut prices. Adding to this challenge, data from the same year revealed that approximately 100 million coconuts were destroyed by monkeys, according to the Coconut Cultivation Board's Chairman Dr. Sunimal Jayakodi.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday (10) at the Department of Government Information, Dr. Jayakodi elaborated on the multifaceted reasons behind the reduced harvest. These include extreme weather conditions, inadequate nutrition and water, diseases, animal-related issues, and the conversion of coconut-growing lands for other purposes.

"There have been discus...