Lucille Wijewardena reappointed Tea Board Chairman

Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake presents the letter of appoint to Tea Board Chairman Lucille Wijewardena

By Charumini de Silva

Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake yesterday reappointed leading business figure and industry veteran Lucille Wijewardena as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board.

The formal letter of appointment was handed over by the Minister at the Ministry in Battaramulla yesterday.

Wijewardena was the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tea Board before the political crisis on 26 October. Previously, he was the Chairman of Softlogic Stockbrokers Ltd., Managing Director of Anuga Holdings Ltd., and Founder Director of Regency Teas Ltd.

He told Daily FT yesterday that one of the priorities would be to get the global promotion campaign expedited. 

“We hope to have the launch in China and Russia and Japan by end April,” he added.

Another priority will be to address the issues of Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), which has affected markets in Japan and Taiwan. “Deteriorating quality of green leaf is another serious issue affecting quality,” Wijewardene added.

Wijewardena is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Post Graduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

In his career spanning over 35 years, he has held many senior management positions in areas of finance and general management. He served as the Managing Director of Hayleys Plantations, Talawakelle Plantations Ltd. and Pussellawa Plantations Ltd. He also held the post of Chairman of Mahaweli MarineCement Company Ltd. and Group Chief Accountant of Carson Cumberbatch&Co. Ltd. 

Wijewardena also serves on the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka as a member of the Dispute Resolution Committee.