Maliban concerned over adverse media reports

Maliban Biscuit Ltd, states that they are deeply concerned about the news stories carried in media, linking the company to the conspirators who murdered Major Muthalif of the Sri Lanka Army.

This has led to a section of our employees launching work disruptions and allegations implicating our senior management in this unfortunate incident. Maliban with our heritage of protecting indigenous values and culture has always placed the interest of our country and our people first. Therefore, this unfortunate incident and its misuse is deeply worrying, a release by Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited said.

Excerpts from the press release:

Golden Bake (Private) Ltd. is a privately owned company that has, since September last year, manufactured wafer biscuits for Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited and Little Lion Associates.

An independent sub contractor supplying labour to the Golden Bake Factory at Ratmalana has been arrested in connection with Major Muthalif murder. Subsequent to this, the services of this contractor was terminated by the Golden Bake's management.

The management of Maliban has never utilised the services of this labour sub contractor in its own factory. We therefore note, with deep regret, that a section of disgruntled employees at Maliban have instigated labour unrest, and work disruption at our factory. These employees have also commenced a campaign based on the false allegation that the CEO and HR Managers were responsible for this.

The management has conclusive evidence to prove that this section of employees are attempting to sabotage the company's growth through this campaign, for their own narrow interest, which is to obtain the maximum benefits from the company, without contributing to improving productivity and work practices.

In this scenario, the management finds it ironic that anti progressive forces are at work to subvert its forward march through a campaign of false propaganda, as this will be detrimental to workforce that it claims to be protecting.

The management of Maliban is therefore deeply concerned that the current unrest and smear campaign will destabilise the company's progress, making it vulnerable to competition. The company is therefore exploring all remedies available to it, including legal action for criminal defamation. The customers and consumers are therefore informed that the Company would take every steps to defend its reputation built over 50 years of unrelenting service, the release said.