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5,000 coconut trees to be destroyed to contain root wilt disease
Colombo, Nov. 12 (Daily Mirror) - The Coconut Cultivation Board (CCB) has decided to cut down and destroy around 5,000 coconut trees in the Matara District due to the rapid spread of the coconut root wilt disease, locally known as 'Weligama Wint'.
CCB Chairman Dr. Sunimal Jayakody said the disease, caused by an invasive insect species known as Renda Makuna, has already affected about 6,250 trees in the district.
“This disease has been a serious threat to coconut cultivation in the Southern Province for nearly 15 years. While its spread to other parts of the country has been contained, it continues to be a major issue in the south,” Dr. Jayakody said.
He explained that infected trees stop producing coconuts and die within two years, as the disease spreads easily through insects that carry the bacteria.
“So far, we’ve had to cut down nearly 325,000 coconut trees nationwide to control the spread. In Matara, we plan to remove 5,000 out of the 6,250 infected trees,” he added.
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