Lanka tea industry reeks of corruption, says Minister

Sri Lankan Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake on Wednesday told a packed room of journalists how the tea industry is reeking of corruption and that he will be after "quality, quality, quality" this year.
Two years into the job, Minister Dissanayake for the first time came out strongly against the tea industry that he said was corrupt and as a result of which the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) would be monitored more stringently.
Speaking at a media conference at the Tea Board in Colombo, he raised the issue of how some companies were found to have transferred funds within their parent company.
"The industry is very big, its a US$1.5 billion industry and nefarious activities like blending impure teas are coming into the market and they get the officials on their side as well," the minister said adding that "this year I want to clean up the industry." (SD)