Rumblings in the tea sector

Some months back, The Sunday Times FT warned that the authorities were gunning for another upright public official in the tea trade and urged the tea industry to be on alert. There are a few state institutions that are as effective as the private sector and the Tea Research Institute (TRI) and Sri Lanka Tea Board are among this valued lot.

In April when TRI Director Dr Ziyard Mohamed was victimized with triumphed up charges, temporarily thrown into jail and lost his job for a few weeks before being reinstated and all charges being dropped, this newspaper raised concerns about a Tea Board official who was similarly facing problems – for doing his job.

That day has come, according to our story on the earlier page where H. D. Hemaratna, Director-General of the Tea Board with 30 years experience in the field, is facing allegations of improper conduct from higher authorities and may face the sack.

The private sector tea trade is horrified over the turn of events but is unlikely to stick its neck out publicly to ensure justice prevails. “He is an asset and one of the most honest and upright public officials I have come across. It would be a huge loss to the state if he is dismissed,” said a worried tea broker, who declined to be named.

Honesty sometimes doesn’t pay as many an official in the public sector has discovered much to their chagrin. The system is so politicized that you either keep mum and ignore the happenings around you or join the bandwagon.

Dr Mohamed is a classic case where he effectively put forward the case for Japan to resume tea purchases from Sri Lanka, after it was suspended in a scare over alleged tea contamination, only to be sent to a temporary cell after returning to Colombo. Some weeks back, he quit the TRI on a conflict of interest issue as he has filed a fundamental rights case against the state over wrongful arrest.

The Tea Board Director-General declined to comment on the latest tea industry dispute which is linked to an appointment of a Deputy Tea Commissioner. The person who has been appointed to the post found the appointment being cancelled subsequently, and she has petitioned the Supreme Court against the ‘injustice’.

Hemaratne has been described by many other private sector industry officials too as a knowledgeable, efficient and honest officer and one cannot understand why the authorities want to get rid of him on some flimsy charge. The whole issue is like a re-enactment of the drama surrounding Dr Mohamed’s crisis.

The Director General had also raised the issue of the appointment of a working director’s position which appears to be not in line with the Tea Board rules and regulations. There have also been other political appointments, bypassing laid down procedures.

Ironically, the Tea Board which – about three years ago – was geared towards moving out of marketing and promotion and dealing with only regulation, has virtually done a double-take on that plan. Instead of downsizing and ‘rightsizing’ of staff, there has been more staff recruitment and ‘new’ roles.

On the other hand, the Tea Association of Sri Lanka which was formed to take over the role of tea promotion and marketing has been sidelined and doesn’t get the support it needs from the government. The plight of the tea industry, the biggest foreign exchange earner until recent times, is such that now it doesn’t even have a minister of cabinet ranking. There doesn’t seem to be a proper policy and direction as far as tea is concerned. Getting rid of officials like Hemaratne will deepen the mess the tea sector is in. It was President Mahinda Rajapaksa who stepped in and sorted out Dr Mohamed’s case. Will justice prevail for the Tea Board Director General too?