Colombo Commercial Fertilizer chairman resigns citing interference
September 26, 2017 08:55 am
The Chairman of the state-owned Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Ltd, Thusitha Halloluwa, has tendered his resignation to Minister of Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake.
In his strongly-worded and detailed resignation letter to the minister, announcing that he will be stepping down with effect from Monday (25), Mr Halloluwa says that he was not able to freely carry out his duties in his position due to undue interference.
He stated that while pressure had continuously piled on, ever since his appointment, unfairly seeking approval for tenders and assistance for new businesses, the amusing aspect was that most of the individuals who exerted such pressure were those who “worshiped the Rajapaksas even after January 9.”
Mr Halloluwa stated that he did his utmost not to bend before such pressure and carry out his duties to the letter and directly. However, he said that during this time a request was submitted to him for Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Ltd to bear the cost of over Rs 1.5 million for morning meals to a project organized by the National Food Promotion Board.
He stated that when the unlawful request was submitted to the Board of Directors, three directors had rejected it. The Chairman says that when the Minister of Agriculture himself personally intervened and requested that the payment be made, he still rejected the request.
In his letter to the minister, Mr Halloluwa points out that the state sector is dependent on the people’s tax money and that properly managing that money is a serious responsibility entrusted to them.
The former Chairman further says that under this backdrop he has no intention of continuing to hold a post in an institution which comes under the purview of Dissanayake’s Ministry and that he decided to resign in order to avoid causing difficulties to the institution and the employees.
Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Ltd is presently under purview of Ministry of Agriculture and managed and Administrated by Chairman and Board of Directors from June 2011.
It is one of the two state owned organizations engaged in whole sale distribution of quality chemical fertilizers to the farmers in Sri Lanka and assisting to the growth of the agriculture economy of the country.
Letter of Resignation by Chairman - Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Ltd, Thusitha Halloluwa by deranapics on Scribd
