Rare new Coconut disease hits Galle

A serious new insect disease that can pose a threat to coconut cultivation has been discovered in Galle for the first time.  

Galle area manager of Coconut Development Board H.G.Hemantha said the Galle District Agriculture Committee yesterday (30).

He said that this disease is a serious disease spread by an insect called Brodantishpa and so far coconut plantations affected by this disease have been identified along the coast from Galle Dodanduwa to Matara Kaburugamuwa.

He said that at least 4,000 such trees have been identified. He said that this disease is difficult to identify and the Coconut Research Laboratory has begun testing this disease which was identified for the first time in Galle in Sri Lanka.