The International Coconut Community (ICC) Secretariat had the honour of welcoming H.E. Sashikala Premawardhane, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Indonesia, during her courtesy visit to the ICC Headquarters in Jakarta on 31 March 2026. The visit marked an important step toward strengthening collaboration between Sri Lanka and ICC in advancing sustainable development within the global coconut sector.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Ms. Nilanthi K. Pelawaththage, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, and was warmly received by the Director General of ICC, along with the Deputy Director General and Directors of the Secretariat.
The visit commenced with a comprehensive presentation by the Director General, highlighting the mandate, objectives, and key functions of ICC. The presentation outlined ICC’s role as an intergovernmental organization representing 21 coconut-producing member countries, collectively accounting for more than 90 percent of global coconut production and exports. The Director General emphasized ICC’s dual mandate, which integrates policy advocacy, capacity building, and market linkages with scientific collaboration through the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT).
During the briefing, particular attention was given to the current global scenario of the coconut sector, including emerging challenges such as climate change, market volatility, agronomic decline, and social pressures affecting coconut-producing communities worldwide.
These issues underscore the importance of coordinated international efforts to enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability across the value chain. A key area of discussion during the meeting was pest and disease management in coconut, which continues to pose a serious threat to production in many member countries, including Sri Lanka. The discussions focused specifically on major pests such as the red palm weevil and whitefly, which have caused significant damage to coconut plantations in recent years. Recognizing the urgency of addressing these challenges, both parties explored the possibility of organizing a dedicated webinar or a physical workshop to facilitate the exchange of best practices, technical knowledge, and successful intervention strategies among member countries.
The Ambassador expressed strong appreciation for ICC’s ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing technical cooperation and knowledge sharing, particularly through platforms such as international training programs, symposiums on integrated pest management (IPM), and collaborative research under COGENT. She noted that strengthening capacity in pest and disease management would have a direct impact on improving productivity and safeguarding farmer livelihoods.
Another highlight of the discussion was ICC’s innovative work on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) derived from non-standard coconuts. The Ambassador commended ICC for exploring this forward-looking approach, recognizing its potential to transform underutilized coconut resources into high-value energy solutions. She emphasized that such initiatives not only contribute to global sustainability goals but also present a significant opportunity for coconut-producing countries like Sri Lanka to diversify income streams for farmers.
H.E. Ambassador Premawardhane further stated her intention to engage with relevant authorities in Sri Lanka to explore how such innovations could be adopted and scaled within the national context. She underscored the importance of balancing economic opportunities with food security considerations, ensuring that value addition initiatives complement rather than compromise domestic consumption needs.
The ICC Secretariat also highlighted its broad range of programs and initiatives aimed at supporting member countries. These include capacity-building programs such as the International Training Course for Coconut Development Officers, international conferences and technical symposia, youth empowerment initiatives, and efforts to harmonize quality standards across the coconut industry.
The Secretariat reiterated its commitment to supporting member countries through technical assistance, research collaboration, and policy guidance. The visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on recent engagements between Sri Lanka and ICC, including the successful exposure visit of Sri Lankan coconut sector stakeholders to Indonesia in February 2026, which facilitated knowledge exchange and strengthened institutional linkages between the two countries. These continued interactions demonstrate the strong partnership between Sri Lanka and ICC in advancing the coconut sector.
In her remarks, the Ambassador praised the ICC Secretariat for its proactive role in addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development within the coconut industry. She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to actively engage with ICC initiatives and to collaborate closely in areas of mutual interest, particularly in research, capacity building, and value addition.
The Director General expressed sincere appreciation for the Ambassador’s visit and her continued support for ICC’s mission. She emphasized that strengthening partnerships with member countries through their diplomatic missions plays a crucial role in enhancing coordination, mobilizing resources, and implementing impactful programs.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding of the importance of deepening collaboration between the Embassy of Sri Lanka and ICC. Both parties agreed to explore concrete avenues for cooperation, including technical exchanges, joint programs, and policy dialogue, aimed at advancing the resilience and sustainability of the coconut sector in Sri Lanka and across ICC member countries.
The courtesy visit of H.E. Ambassador Premawardhane reflects the growing recognition of the coconut sector’s strategic importance in ensuring food security, energy sustainability, and rural livelihoods. It also reaffirms ICC’s role as a key platform for fostering international cooperation and innovation in the coconut industry.