Lanka Commodity Brokers MD/CEO issues denial - Right of Reply
Right of Reply
With reference to the Daily FT article titled ‘Higher prices to carry tea to $ 2.1 b target’ published on 25 August 2014, Lanka Commodity Brokers Ltd. Managing Director and CEO Sarath Sirisena has sent the following statement which was also copied to Minister of Plantations Industries and Chairperson Sri Lanka Tea Board:
My attention is drawn to the above news item on Page 1 and continued on Page 2 wherein, I have been quoted as saying that that the target set by the Tea Board is unrealistic and “I would say that even in the best year Sri Lanka will not be able to surpass a production of 350 million kg. Even if we did, reaching that earning within the next three years seems impossible unless some of the major producing countries are hit, resulting in a surge in exports from Sri Lanka.”
In this connection I vehemently deny that I have ever spoken to the reporter ‘Shabiya Ali Ahlam’ or made any comment in any forum or to any media, comments purported to have to been made by me.
Editor’s Note
The Daily FT stands by its story.
