The inaugural event of the National Project to Control Whiteflies, held under the theme ‘Two-Week Intensive National Field Operation – 2025’, commenced today, Monday (14.07.2025), at Kachai in the Chavakachcheri Divisional Secretariat, with the participation of the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, Mr. N. Vethanayahan.
The event was also attended by Jaffna District Secretary Mr. M. Pratheepan; Chairman of the Coconut Cultivation Board, Dr. Sunimal Jayakody; General Manager, Mr. Wijeyasinghe; Assistant General Manager, Mr. T. Vaikunthan; Northern Provincial Director of Agriculture, Mrs. S. Senthilkumaran; Deputy Provincial Director of Agriculture, Mrs. S. Anjanathevi; and several other dignitaries and officials.
In his opening address, Dr. Sunimal Jayakody, Chairman of the Coconut Cultivation Board, stated that the National Project to Control Whiteflies is being launched in the Jaffna District itself. He noted that while Sri Lanka aims to produce 3 billion coconuts annually, current yields fall short of this target. Several factors, including whitefly infestations and damage caused by animals, contribute to the shortfall. Dr. Jayakody emphasized the Board’s ambitious goal of increasing annual coconut production to 4.2 billion by 2030. In the Jaffna District alone, approximately 150,000 coconut trees have been affected by whitefly infestations. He highlighted the scale of the current operation, noting that 150 machines and 150 workers have been deployed. However, as each machine requires at least four operators, he appealed to the public to extend their support and cooperation to help address the shortage of manpower and ensure the success of the initiative.
In his remarks, the Honorable Governor stated that the Jaffna District is experiencing a severe resurgence of whitefly infestation. He recalled that while the infestation was particularly intense two to three years ago, it was later brought under control — but has now returned with renewed intensity. As a result, coconut production in many groves has dropped to zero. He noted that many local residents supplement their income by selling surplus coconuts beyond their household needs, and this livelihood has also been adversely affected. The Governor highlighted that the government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has launched the Coconut Triangle Zone initiative to enhance coconut cultivation in the Northern region. He stressed that controlling the whitefly infestation is essential to realizing this goal and urged the public to extend their full cooperation in this collective effort.
In his speech, Mr. T. Vaikunthan, Assistant General Manager of the Coconut Cultivation Board, stated that this project was initiated following the consistent requests made by the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province and was conceptualized under the leadership of the Board’s Chairman. He also called on the public to actively participate in the initiative, emphasizing that community involvement is essential for its success.
Following the inaugural ceremony, the whitefly control operation targeting coconut trees was officially launched.
