Restraining Order on Harry Jayawardana

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: District Judge of Colombo Aruna C. Ranasinghe Wednesday issued an enjoining order restraining Managing Director of Stassen Exports Limited, Harry Jayawardana from preventing V.P. Vittachchi functioning as a director of the company until January 11, 2007.

The Court also by the enjoining order restricted Jayawardana from preventing Vittachchi being paid his salaries, vehicle facilities and other facilities he was given before December 3.

Petitioner V.P. Vittachchi cited six including Managing Director of Stassen Exports Limited, D.H.S. Jayawardana, Director R.K. Obeysekara and Stassen Exports Limited as respondents.

The petitioner stated that he was retired from Sri Lanka Civil Service. He was the Principal Collector of Customs and a Chairman of the State Trading Corporation (Consolidated Exports) Limited.

Petitioner also stated that himself and the first respondent were shareholders of the Stassen Exports Limited with 20.01 and 50.01 percent of shares respectively.

He stated that their company took over the management of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka Limited (DCSL) through the stock exchange. Petitioner was appointed as its Chairman while the first respondent was appointed as the managing director.

Petitioner further stated that as a result of a conflict between them the first respondent dismissed the petitioner from the post of Chairman of the DCSL unlawfully on November 29, 2006.

The first respondent appointed himself as the chairman. He further said that in a letter dated December 4, 2006 he was informed by the first respondent that he had been prevented from functioning as a Director of the Stassen Exports Limited with effect from March 1, 1993 and it was unlawful.

Petitioner prayed before the Court to state that the contents of the letter dated December 4, 2006 was unlawful and issue a permanent injunction restraining Jayawardana from preventing Vittachchi working as a Director of the company.

President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse with Kuvera de Soysa and Kapilaliyana Gamage appeared for the petitioner instructed by G.G. Arulpragasam.