Financial Times

Thilanga chairs SLT meeting
Controversial businessman Thilanga Sumathipala, freed on bail recently, chaired a board meeting of Sri Lanka Telecom for the first time in six months.

An SLT spokesman said the board meeting was held on June 25 where the names of three new directors - S.B. Divaratne (Treasury), Anil Obeysekera and Nigel Hatch - were announced.

On a previous occasion, while he was in remand custody in connection with charges of violating immigration laws, the SLT chairman had handled the board meeting via a video conferencing facility from his hospital bed.

Although Sumathipala has sent in his resignation, the SLT spokesman said SLT CEO Shuhei Anan has informed the CSE under section 19/146 of listing rules that the chairman (Sumathipala) will step down on July 29, after which the board will elect a new chairman. Obeysekera, a former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation chairman, is tipped to replace Sumathipala.

Back to Business