President pledges economic revival and national unity in Northern Province

• Inaugurates Northern Coconut Triangle spanning five districts, with Rs. 500 m to develop 16,000 acres in 2025, benefitting 12,000 families; targets 40,000 acres by 2027 and $ 70 m extra export earnings
• Hands over land ownership deeds to farmers, while Sri Lanka was recognised by International Coconut Community for sector contributions
• Stresses protection of land, language, cultural and human rights, including efforts to address missing persons’ cases
• Announces new industrial zones, tourism projects, and infrastructure investments to restore livelihoods lost during conflict
• Highlights push for cultural reconciliation through shared celebrations and sports to rebuild unity
• Warns against resurgence of communal politics, vowing to prevent a repeat of past divisions
• Reiterates focus on economic reforms to fight corruption, restore rule of law, improve efficiency, raise revenue, and strengthen debt repayment capacity
• Calls for countrywide support to achieve a “respected and admired” Sri Lanka

President Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to revitalising the Northern Province, pledging to create new economic opportunities, safeguard fundamental rights, and foster national unity. 

He made these remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the Northern Coconut Triangle in Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu, held to mark World Coconut Day under the theme “Ratama Saru Karai Nirathuru – Kapthuru Saviya.”

The President noted that the people of the North had placed their trust in him during the last Presidential Election and assured that his administration would honour that mandate by delivering tangible progress. “During the last election, the people living in these areas placed their trust in us and took a significant step forward. It is our expectation to carry that trust forward towards success,” he said.

Central to this commitment is the launch of the Northern Coconut Triangle, established on the recommendations of the Coconut Research Institute, linking Point Pedro, Silawathura and Kokkilai, and spanning across Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya districts.

The initiative, backed by a Rs. 500 million Budget allocation, aims to provide high-yield saplings and develop 16,000 acres of new coconut plantations in 2025, benefitting nearly 12,000 farming families. By 2027, the cultivated area is projected to expand to 40,000 acres, with expected export earnings from coconut-related products rising by $ 70 million annually.

The President also presented ownership deeds to farmers at the event and received recognition from the International Coconut Community for Sri Lanka’s contributions to the sector.

Disanayake stressed that the Government’s development push would be accompanied by a strong focus on protecting rights. “We recognise land rights, language rights, cultural rights and the right to know about their missing loved ones, as their fundamental rights. We have therefore launched a series of measures to safeguard these rights,” he assured.

Alongside agriculture, new industrial zones and tourism initiatives are planned for the North, with investment in water and infrastructure to boost livelihoods. The President described these as essential to restoring the opportunities lost during decades of conflict.

He also underlined the importance of cultural reconciliation. “Equally important is the unity we must build among ourselves at a cultural level. To this end, we have named a day that can be celebrated by all together. We are also working to strengthen interrelations through sport. We are engaged in a significant effort to reunite people who have long been divided,” he added.

Reflecting on the past, Dissanayake acknowledged the suffering endured by people in Puthukkudiyirippu and across the North during the war. 

He warned against the resurgence of divisive politics: “For decades, the lives of those here were overshadowed by war. Distrust, suspicion and weapons defined a 30-year-long conflict, yet, during the last Presidential Election, the people of this country defeated that trend. We will not allow communal politics to resurface in this country again.”

The President asserted that addressing economic hardship remains a central priority. He highlighted reforms aimed at eradicating corruption, restoring the rule of law, improving public service efficiency and increasing state revenue. 

“Our aim is to build a strong economy that will enable us to repay our debts,” he stated, adding that both stalled and new development projects are being advanced to transform Sri Lanka into “a nation respected and admired by the world.”

Dissanayake called on citizens across the country to support the Government’s agenda for renewal. “On this journey, we seek the support of all of you. Let us join together, without division of any kind, in this path of national transformation.”

The Maha Sangha and members of the clergy, Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyaratne, Fisheries, Aquatic, and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Ratnayake, Cooperative Development Deputy Minister Upali Samarasingha, Land and Irrigation Deputy Minister Susil Ranasinghe, Governor of the Northern Province Nagalingam Vethanayahan, Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the District Secretaries of Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, other State officials, foreign delegates, as well as representatives of the Coconut Research Institute, Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Cultivation Board, the Chilaw Plantations Company, the Kurunegala Plantations Company, and several other public and private institutions also attended this occasion.