More than 1 million coconuts sold at second e-auction

COLOMBO (News1st): The second coconut auction held via video conferencing on Thursday saw 1.15 million coconuts being sold, officials at the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) said. "The nuts were sold at an average rate of Rs 41," Sampath Samarawickrama, the CDA Director of Marketing Development and Research told News1st. Last week's auction saw more than 500,000 coconuts being sold at a rate of Rs 38.20. A private supplier and five government suppliers Chilaw Plantation, Kurunegala Plantation, National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), Coconut Research Institute (CRI), and Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) participated in the e-auction. At least 1.5 million coconuts were on sale at the auction. The coconut authority began conducting its auctions using video conferencing platform Zoom last week, after social distancing regulations due to COVID - 19 meant it could not be conducted physically. "The coconut industry is returning to normal as factories have now begun operations," Samarawickrama added. Sri Lanka rakes in an average annual income of Rs 110 billion annually through the exports of coconut related products, the CDA said.