Killer bureaucracy impedes tea exports

This issue would be taken up with at Cabinet level to ensure that the government system does not delay exporters. This type of red tape has also impacted the very long awaited tea promotional campaign which would initially be carried out as a digital marketing campaign.

The SLTB noted that while Facebook and other social media sites accept payments via credit cards, the maximum credit limit on government cards is Rs.100,000 while approvals are needed from the Treasury to change it to between Rs.1 – 1.5 million. In addition, the Controller of Exchange has stated that the (state) credit cards cannot be used for commercial transactions.

Moreover, Mr. Pethiyagoda explained that hiring and firing is also carried out according to stringent government regulations that do not allow a person to be hired until the last person in that posting has left the building. And when a new person needs to be hired, a number of written approvals must be obtained to employ a new entrant causing delays and setbacks in a system that requires a smooth and constant flow of work.