GI push for Sri Lanka’s king coconut underway
The Morning: Preparatory work to secure Geographical Indication (GI) status for Sri Lankan king coconut is currently underway, with research aimed at establishing its endemic and unique characteristics nearing completion, the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRI) reveals.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, CRI Acting Director Nayanie Aratchige stated that while work on securing GI status was progressing, the formal application process would commence only after the completion of the ongoing preparatory phase.
She explained that in order to qualify for GI status, Sri Lanka must demonstrate that king coconut was both endemic and unique to the country. To this end, the CRI had initiated a comprehensive research study, which is now in its final stages.
“The research is almost complete. We have collected sufficient data to establish that Sri Lankan king coconut is endemic to Sri Lanka,” she stated.
She further noted that the CRI was currently awaiting the results of several chemical analyses conducted by the Industrial Technology Institute. These results are expected within a month, following which the data analysis will be finalised. The overall study is expected to be completed by June.
Aratchige stated that once the research was concluded, Sri Lanka would need to seek support from multilateral or international funding agencies to proceed with the next phase of the GI application process. This stage will involve the establishment of farmer organisations, similar to the approach adopted in securing GI status for Ceylon Cinnamon.
“We are planning to follow the cinnamon model, where stakeholders were organised and provided with the necessary training to meet GI requirements,” she said.
However, she clarified that this next phase would need to be undertaken at the ministerial level.
GI certifications serve to protect and authenticate the quality, reputation, and unique characteristics of a product by linking it to a specific geographical origin, while also enhancing its value in both local and international markets.
OSL take:
While Sri Lanka’s export industry is continuing its steady growth path as one of the key revenue generators to the country, local authorities and stakeholders are also working on further uplifting and expanding the industry to meet the increasing global demand. The country’s export industry has shown great resilience and strength to external and internal economic challenges through the years and has continuously maintained operations in the aftermath of the global pandemic and the economic crisis faced by the country in 2022. The many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by the country with many foreign countries and the country’s strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean have all helped boost Sri Lanka’s export industry. However, the increasing global demand and evolving global markets have opened many business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s export industry as well as sectors connected to it. The need to add more value and diversify the existing export product portfolio has further expanded opportunities in the export industry and related sectors. Given the growth and business potential in Sri Lanka’s export industry along with the country’s overall economic expansion, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the expanding opportunities in the local export industry and related sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260409/Z_1 |