Commerce DG stays despite letter

By Uditha Jayasinghe

The Director General of Commerce will continue in his post despite a stinker of a letter delivered to the Industry and Commerce Ministry by heads of several top companies over his handling of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

Industry and Commerce Secretary Thilak Collure told the Daily FT that the issue would be taken up for investigation within the parameters of Ministry protocol and that Director General of Commerce Gomi Senadhira would continue in his post.



“When such letters are sent, there is an internal Ministry procedure to be followed, such as an inquiry into the allegations and that is what will be done in this instance,” he explained, but declined to give any more information on the matter. However, he did confirm that Senadhira would continue in his post until the inquiry was completed.  

Heads of several top companies had earlier requested that the Director General of Commerce be removed and another person appointed to continue discussions regarding the controversial CEPA.

The new twist comes in the wake of several anti-CEPA business leaders sending a letter requesting the removal of Senadhira to Collure on 22 April. MultiChemi Group of Companies Managing Director Samantha Kumarasinghe, Chamber of Young Lankan Entrepreneurs Secretary General Gamini Sarath, Ceylon Biscuits Chairman M.P. Wickramasinghe, DSI Samson Group Managing Director D.K. Rajapaksa, KIK Lanka Chairman Lalith Kahatapitiya, DPJ Holdings Chairman Prasantha Jayamanna and Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries Vice President K. Chandrasekara have signed the letter calling for the dismissal.

The group point out that they were representatives of the Sri Lankan industrialists and business chambers at the first consultative meeting with business chambers by the Inter Agency Committee (IAC) on CEPA, held at the department on 4 April presided over by Senadhira. The letter charges that the minutes of this meeting had been changed to suit the objectives of the Director General and ignores the concerns made by the business community.

“We are truly disappointed to find that Director General of Commerce Gomi Senadhira has totally changed the contents of the discussion and has circulated partial and incorrect minutes. He has deliberately ignored the objectives and crucial issues raised by the business chambers and other industrialists during the meeting and have disregarded all proofs submitted to confirm the validity of our arguments. It is evident that the Director General is abusing his authority in IAC and trying to send proposals to India on 30 April with the message that the IAC has approved his views on CEPA without objections,” the letter claims.

Insisting that quick action must be taken to prevent events that could “cause irrevocable damages to our motherland,” the letter goes on to urge the Ministry Secretary not to allow Senadhira to take any decision on CEPA as he is due to retire soon. “We strongly believe that he favours Indian proposals, ignoring all the objections raised by Sri Lankan stakeholders.”

The letter concludes thus: “Due to his reluctance to accommodate the view of the Sri Lankan stakeholders, his irresponsible decision making and his adamant attitude we have lost confident in the Director General to handle CEPA negotiations with India and kindly request appointment of a successor to head the Sri Lankan team that negotiate CEPA proposals.”