Consumers are struggling due to a sharp rise in coconut prices across the country.

Traders say large coconuts now sell for Rs.200 – 250, while smaller ones range from Rs.175 – 190.

The steep price hike is straining household budgets and impacting small businesses that depend on coconuts for daily food preparation.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a new gazette notification easing several more restrictions on vehicle imports, with effect from April 29, 2025.

The directive, issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, paves the way for the clearance of several types of vehicles that had been stranded at ports due to previous restrictions.

Commenting on the development, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Vehicle Importers’ Association Prasad Manage said: “We’ve been unable to clear these vehicles for the past one and a half to two months. With the new gazette, we can now release hybrid models such as the Toyota Raize and the Nissan X-TRAIL. Other hybrid vehicles using similar technology have also been approved for clearance.”

In a related move, the government has also lifted the ban on the import of unregistered new motorcycles. A separate gazette notification has been issued allowing the import of new motorcycles under a licensed import scheme.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

Laugfs Gas PLC, one of the two largest liquefied petroleum (LP) gas suppliers in the country, announced that the company will not revise domestic LP gas prices for the month of May 2025.

This was communicated by the Cluster Director/CEO of Laugfs Gas PLC, Dr. Niroshan J Peiris.