Mahinda intervenes in Tea Board fiasco?

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is said to have intervened in the disputed ‘suspension’ of the Tea Board Director General as tea industry stakeholders rallied around for a second week in support of H.D. Hemaratne.

Stakeholders, in a letter, asked the beleaguered Tea Board Chairman B.A.C. Abeywardene to take up the ‘suspension’ issue at the next Tea Board directors’ meeting on Wednesday.

This came as industry sources told The Sunday Times FT that they learnt the President was stepping into the matter and rectifying the injustice done to Hemaratne who has been described as a dedicated and honest officer by all sections of the industry. He was sent on compulsory leave about two weeks back by the chairman on various allegations including corruption claims.

“We are concerned over what has happened and we have requested the chairman to include this issue in the next board meeting to ensure that proper action would be taken” Padma Nanayakara, President of Tea Small holders Association of Sri Lanka, said.

Coming to Hemaratne’s rescue last week was Merrill J Fernando, founder of Dilmah Tea - one of the country’s biggest overseas brands, who said the former was an officer who acted with honesty and integrity and treated both VIPs and small traders alike.

“He was able to uncover numerous thefts in the industry and investigated and exposed many malpractices despite whatever political pressure. He has raided businesses which had strong political connections. This is a blow on men of integrity,” said Fernando adding that Hemaratne was an official who took his work seriously even though he had a lot of pressure and opposition from various parties.

Another director of the Tea Board who declined to be named said they wanted justice for an officer who has been instrumental in controlling the illicit tea trade.

“The chairman should follow proper procedure by issuing of the charge sheet and conducting an independent inquiry on the matter,” he said.

Jayantha Keragala from the Tea Exporters Association said they have requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Plantation Industries Milroy Fernando.

“Hemaratne is a gentleman with a lot of integrity and we do not want to see him removed because he has brought a lot of discipline to the industry. A lot of malpractice in the industry has been curtailed to a great extent by him,” he said.