FHA condemns murder of trade union leader over leasing dispute

COLOMBO (News1st) : The Finance Houses Association (FHA) of Sri Lanka has condemned the murder of an trade union leader over a leasing dispute on Wednesday. Sunil Jayawardena had been murdered while appearing for a three wheel driver whose vehicle had been seized by a leasing company for failing to settle an installment. He was the Chairman of the Lanka Self-Employed Professionals’ National Three-Wheeler Federation. "FHA denounces the actions of the said fraudulent organization and the uncalled for tragedy that accompanied their actions," FHA Chairman R.H. Abeygoonewardena said in a statement. The FHA said that it comprises of 41 licensed finance companies, and that the company linked to the murder was not among them. It noted that the leasing company had not provided the relief granted by the government on recovering leasing payments amidst the COVID-19, which caused economic hardships. "...the licensed finance companies have offered debt relief to approximately 500,000 customers across Sri Lanka," the association said. In the aftermath of the incident, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the police to prevent leasing companies from seizing vehicles for six months.