Lasantha Wickramasinghe speaking to a briefing held today (19) disclosed that he has been ousted from his position as the Chairman of MILCO by appointing Renuka Perera the Control Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in the position and this has not been communicated to him.
The former MILCO Chief stated that even he learned of the event via media.
Wickramasinghe also revealed that Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had told him that the President was not aware of this reposition, adding that he, nevertheless, will continue to serve in his position until Mr. Perera assumes office.
“The company that went bankrupt in a matter of two years was turned into a for-profit company and last year it was turned into a company earning a profit of Rs. 400 million. A profit of Rs. 400 million was made in the year before as well. Also, the amount paid to dairy farmers for milk was last soared in 2015. But in the last two years we have increased the amount paid to dairy farmers by 30 per cent. Gratuities were paid to the workmen twice last year. We reserve 10 per cent of the profit for employee gratuities. We are happy with how we accepted the challenge and faced it together,” Wickramasinghe noted.
He added that steps have been taken to stop all the malpractices at MILCO in the recent past and that no one is capable of committing fraud.
The former MILCO Chief also stressed that he does not know whether some party lacks tolerance of this success.
MIAP