Courtesy The Island

First resigns from the boards of a clutch of quoted companies

Mr. Dhammika Perera, who was widely tipped to enter Parliament on the SLPP National List, on Friday tendered is resignation from a clutch of public listed companies where he served as chairman or director – both executive and non-executive – with effect from June 10.

Shortly threafter his appointment as an SLPP National List MP was gazetted by the Elections Commission. He was thereafter appointed one of two new ministers – the other being Ms. Pavithra Wanniarachchi – with responsibility for Technology and Investment promotion with a wide range of subjects, previously under the Defence Ministry, assigned to him.

Former Minister Paithra Wanniarachchi has re-entered the cabinet as Minister of Women’s ad Children’s Affairs, Social Empowerment and Samurdhi.

Speculation that Perera would shortly enter the government was fueled by his resignations from quoted company boards notified to the Colombo Stock Exchange and published on its website.

Subjects assigned to Perera include a large area under the umbrella of Investment Promotion and Technology. Many subjects previously under the Defence Ministry held by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been assigned to him.

These include Department of Registration of Persons, Immigration and Emigration, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, SLT and its subsidiaries, Sri Lanka Standards Institute, BOI and Colombo Port City Economic Commission.

The listed companies he resigned included those of his own Vallibel Group, Hayleys Group of Companies (Hayleys, Dipped Product, Haycarb, The Kingsbury and several more), Royal Ceramics, Lanka Tiles and Lanka Walltiles Group (including Horana Plantations), LB Finance, Singer Sri Lanka etc.

Perera has gone public with the claim that he’s the country’s largest taxpayer.