Colombo (News 1st); The country is facing a shortage of 700 million coconuts said State Minister Arundika Fernando adding the main reason for the shortage is the high demand for local industries and domestic consumption.

Arundhika Fernando is the State Minister of Coconut, Kithul, Palmyrah, and Rubber Cultivation Promotion and Related Industrial Product Manufacturing & Export Diversification, and he made these comments on Friday (18) while reaching the top of a coconut tree in Warakapola.

“We hope to utilize every available plot of land for the cultivation of coconuts and boost the industry to one which would generate foreign exchange to the country,” said the State Minister.

As a solution to the present price issue, the Government aims to reduce prices despite the shortage of coconuts, said Arudika Fernando.

It took a great effort for the State Minister’s supporter’s to get him out of the coconut tree climbing contraption.

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