Weligama coconut leaf wilting disease was first identified in the country in 2006 and about 6000 lakh coconut trees were cut down in the southern province affected by the disease. It is reported that the Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute announced that a new variety of coconut resistant to this disease has been identified and it will be released into the field next year.
Also, Mr. Roshan de Silva, the head of the crop protection department, has mentioned that the control activities in the areas where the disease has spread have been successful.
