The first shipment of imported coconut milk, intended to provide raw materials for industries reliant on coconut-based production and to help reduce domestic coconut prices, has been sent for customs clearance and laboratory testing, according to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Rural Infrastructure Development.
This import was carried out under the approval of the Cabinet, following a joint proposal by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and the Ministry of Industries.
The Ministry stated that the shipment, equivalent to 200 million coconuts, is the first batch brought under a programme approved by the Cabinet in March 2025. The programme allows the import of selected coconut-derived products such as frozen coconut milk, coconut milk powder, and chunked coconut with kernel (excluding copra).
The imported stock is designated for use in the coconut milk powder manufacturing industry. Authorities expect that by supplying the necessary raw materials to local manufacturers, the move will also help ease domestic coconut prices.
The Ministry further clarified that the shipment will only be released to industrial processors after receiving the necessary approvals from all relevant institutions, including the Plant Quarantine Service, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, the Coconut Research Institute, and the Department of Agriculture.
Additionally, the Ministry announced that the consignment will be officially opened tomorrow (31 May) at 9.00 a.m. at the RCT Complex within the Sri Lanka Customs premises in Orugodawatta.
