Vittachi scores in courtroom victory over Harry J

By Natasha Gunaratne

VP Vittachi has scored a victory in round three of the ongoing battle with business tycoon and partner Harry Jayawardene by securing an enjoining order from the courts permitting him to resume his duties as Chairman of Stassen Exports Ltd this past week.

"I went to office and there was no problem," he told The Sunday Times FT. "I was welcomed by the staff. Even security, who were instructed to obstruct me the last time were respectful and very happy to see me. I am resuming my normal life."

Vittachi added that Jayawardene was seated in the Chairman's room in what Vittachi describes as an "intimidating" move. "When I went to office on Thursday, Harry Jayawardene was in my room, seated at the conference table attending to some papers. When I took my seat, he left the room." There was no further interaction between the two. Asked if he would be pursuing anymore legal proceedings, he said his attorneys would have to advise him on any other course of action he might take.

In the run up to the court decision which transpired this week, Jayawardene scored a double victory in rounds one and two of the battle over the past three weeks when Vittachi was unceremoniously dismissed as Chairman of Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) at its Annual General Meeting and dismissed as Chairman of Stassens the following week.

Vittachi called his dismissal as DCSL Chairman "illegal" and told the Sunday Times FT after his removal that he was contemplating taking legal action.