Chairman stubborn, other directors threatened

The Sri Lanka Tea Board crisis over the controversial ‘suspension’ of its Director General H.D. Hemaratne took another serious turn last week when its beleaguered chairman B.A.C. Abeywardene slammed the media while private sector directors raised concerns over their safety amidst threats resulting from the arrogance of the latter.

Informed sources said some staff at the instigation of Abeywardene, who is also chairman of a private TV channel, TV Lanka, was threatening to ‘manhandle’ Hemaratne if he is reinstated.

“Even members of the board have been threatened of the same action if they intervene in the dispute,” one of the directors told The Sunday Times FT.

Abeywardene, asked for his comments on the ‘suspension’, blasted The Sunday Times FT for incorrect and irresponsible reporting. “I am the chairman of TV Lanka and I know about journalism,” he said, speaking in Sinhala.

Some private sector directors asked to comment on the unfair dismissal of Hemaratne, widely regarded as an honest officer, appeared to have cold feet and refused to talk to the media after providing comments in the past.

It has been three weeks since Hemaratne was sent on compulsory leave over various allegations of misappropriation of funds and wrongful appointment of officials. Abeywardene hasn’t held a proper inquiry nor issued a charge sheet to Hemaratne. Another director, who declined to be named, said the chairman is conducting the affairs of the board in a ‘real haphazard manner’. Abeywardene has told the board that as the CEO he can do whatever he wants without consulting the other directors who were also told Hemaratne’s issue is an administrative one and doesn’t come under their purview.

The Ceylon Tea Traders Association and the Tea Exporters Association have called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis this week and plan the course of action private stakeholders should take. They also plan to meet the Minister of Plantation Industries Milroy Fernando.

The Sunday Times FT learns that despite the advice of the Ministry Additional Secretary to hold a preliminary inquiry and issue a charge sheet the chairman has refused to do so. Hemaratne said he is still waiting for a proper charge sheet. “I sent two requests to the chairman asking him to send the charge sheet followed by an inquiry. But I have not received any to this date. I deny all the vague allegations the chairman has stated in the letter. I can prove in any court that I have not misappropriated a single cent of the Tea Board,” he said.