Plantations and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyarathna has called for research-based solutions to increase productivity in Sri Lanka’s coconut industry and address challenges faced by coconut growers.The Minister made these remarks during an inspection tour of the Coconut Research Institute in Lunuwila on October 27, where discussions were held on the institute’s research activities and future development programs for the coconut industry.During the visit, the Minister reviewed ongoing research, new technologies introduced for coconut cultivation and measures to make these innovations more accessible to growers. He emphasized the need to direct research towards current challenges in the field and instructed officials to identify factors affecting coconut cultivation and introduce practical solutions without delay.