Image: Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handuneththi opened a special outlet for brown sugar, a white elephant.
Attorney-at-Law Sandamali Chandrasekera has resigned from her post as Chairperson of Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt) Ltd with immediate effect, citing mounting political pressure and challenges in upholding legal and regulatory standards.
In a letter dated February 17, 2026, addressed to Chandrasekera formally tendered her resignation and expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in her and the opportunity to serve the Government.
She noted that Lanka Sugar, a loss-making State-Owned Enterprise, operates under strict regulatory and financial controls, including oversight by the Department of Public Enterprises. While acknowledging that such frameworks are essential for accountability and governance, she said they also limited the company’s operational flexibility.
According to the letter, during her tenure there were several instances where requests and expectations conveyed to the company would have required violations of applicable circulars, regulations, and established legal procedures. Chandrasekera stated that she, along with the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, remained firmly bound by their statutory and fiduciary obligations and were therefore unable to comply with such requests.
She further revealed that this stance led to increasing friction with certain provincial politicians. Despite repeated efforts to clarify the legal and regulatory limitations under which the company operates, she said the explanations were not accepted.
Chandrasekera indicated that continuing pressure from local political figures to act in a manner inconsistent with the law, regulations, and government circulars had made it increasingly difficult to discharge her duties in keeping with good governance and institutional integrity.
“In these circumstances, I am unable to perform my duties in the best interests of the institution and in keeping with my professional ethics,” she wrote, adding that stepping down was both appropriate and necessary.
She concluded by expressing appreciation for the opportunity to have served as Chairperson of the state enterprise.
The letter:
