Dr. V. P. Vittachi, founder chairman at Stassen’s and Milford companies, passed away early Wednesday at his home in Colpetty. He was a senior civil servant including a stint as Principal Collector of Customs in the 1970s.

He was chairman of Consolexpo, one of the largest exporters of tea and other produce during the 1970s when Harry Jayawardena, R.K. Obeysekere and Zaki Alif were senior or junior executives in the company. The four then started Stassen and after many years of success, the partners fell out in mid-2000.

Directors Mr Obeysekere, Mr Alif and Mr Vittachi filed action in the Colombo Commercial High Court against Mr Jayawardena asking that either the latter sells his stock or buy them out. The case is pending.