Sri Lanka launches program to establish 250 king coconut villages

Sri Lanka has launched the ‘Ceylon King Coconut Village’ national program, an initiative designed to transform the country into a global hub for coconut exports and revitalize the rural economy. The program aims to establish 250 dedicated king coconut villages by 2028, with a rollout schedule of 75 villages in 2026, 80 in 2027, and 95 in 2028.

Key components of the initiative include planting 212,500 new seedlings, rehabilitating 221,500 existing trees, and developing one small processing facility per village. The program expects to empower approximately 21,250 farmers through a structured data and trade system that connects growers, collectors, and exporters. By 2030, the government aims to increase the annual coconut harvest by 25 million nuts and raise export earnings from coconuts and related products to over USD 12 million.

Minister Dr. Upali Pannila noted that the global demand for king coconut water-related products is estimated at US$4–5 billion and could reach US$10 billion over the next decade. Beyond increasing farm output, the program seeks to create a rural economic ecosystem by generating jobs in collection, transportation, processing, bottling, and logistics, thereby increasing value creation at the village level.