The current 'tea crisis’ has forced some Colombo firms to contemplate exiting from tea plantations, handing management to others or bringing in fresh capital in a bid to avoid the losses eating into their bottom lines, industry officials say.

Despite clear rules pertaining to directors resigning under the Central Bank’s governance rules, some directors set to step down in December 31, 2011 are banking on political clout to stay on. “They still want to remain – after such a long innings – and are appealing to higher-ups for an extension,” said a senior government official.