Vittachi to appeal

Sources say V.P. Vittachi is gearing up to file an appeal in the Court of Appeals this coming week after the most recent round of legal proceedings with Sri Lankan business mogul and business partner, Harry Jayawardene.

Another courtroom battle came to a head this past week between Jayawardene, Managing Director of Stassen Exports Limited and Vittachi, Chairman of Stassen Exports and this time, Jayawardene had scored the victory.

A Colombo District judge dismissed the enjoining order which was issued in December 2006 in order to stop Jayawardene from removing Vittachi from the Board of Directors at Stassen Exports.

The Sunday Times FT previously reported that in December 2006, Vittachi secured an enjoining order by the courts permitting him to resume his duties as Chairman of Stassen Exports after being unceremoniously dismissed from his post at Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka's (DCSL) Annual General Meeting. Immediately after being removed, Vittachi referred to his dismissal as 'illegal' and said that he would be looking into instituting legal proceedings against Jayawardene.

Despite scoring an initial victory which allowed Vittachi to resume his position as Chairman of Stassen Exports, the latest dismissal of the enjoining order is certainly a step backward in the legal battle.

Furthermore, the Colombo District judge A.C. Ranasinghe who is presiding over the case dismissed the interim injunction Vittachi was after.

Business associates of Vittachi say that dismissed Chairman was planning on filing papers in the Court of Appeal tommorrow.
(NG)