Chairman of one of the country’s largest listed conglomerates is at the centre of a high-profile legal issue that has raised questions about executive leadership and corporate governance especially as he appears to be operating from overseas.

Dr. Sena Yaddehige, the Chairman, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Richard Pieris & Company PLC a long-established group with diversified interests in manufacturing, engineering, retail, plantations and tyres has been the subject of a travel ban issued by Sri Lankan police following allegations of sexual abuse, according to media reports and police sources. 

In governance circles, the episode has also sparked a broader reflection on whether a conglomerate of this scale can be effectively steered for long through “remote control” leadership. While systems, delegation, and digital communication can preserve continuity in the short term, sustained strategic direction in complex, multi-sector businesses typically depends on visible, on-ground executive accountability. Observers note that, over time, the group may face increasing pressure either for its Chairman to return to Sri Lanka to address the legal process directly or for a clearer separation between personal circumstances and corporate control through formal leadership restructuring or divestment, in order to reassure stakeholders about long-term stability and governance

Alleged Incident and Travel Ban

The Daily Mirror reported that Kollupitiya Police obtained a travel ban against Dr. Yaddehige in late June 2024 after a 39-year-old female business analyst from the company filed a complaint, alleging she was sexually abused during a meeting at a star-class hotel in Kollupitiya on May 7. The complainant said she had been working remotely for the company while the Chairman was overseas, and was contacted by the company ahead of the alleged meeting. Police informed the Fort Magistrate of the complaint, which led to the travel ban order. 

Police and media sources also noted that Dr. Yaddehige departed the country on the same day the incident allegedly occurred and has not returned, which prompted authorities to secure the travel restriction as part of ongoing investigations. 

In a related Daily Mirror report, authorities said Dr. Yaddehige will be arrested upon his return to Sri Lanka in connection with the travel ban and the case tied to the alleged incident. 

Corporate Implications: “Remote Control” Leadership

Richard Pieris & Company PLC commonly known as ARPICO is one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most diversified conglomerates. Founded in 1932, the group operates across multiple sectors and employs tens of thousands of people islandwide. Dr. Yaddehige holds multiple executive roles within the company, including its top leadership positions. 

The apparent physical absence of the group’s top executive at least from Sri Lanka has led to wider discussion in business and market circles about how the company is being managed amid the travel ban and related legal proceedings.

The leadership arrangement has attracted particular attention because it combines the roles of Chairman, Managing Director, and CEO in a single individual — a structure that governance experts often point to as presenting risks in terms of oversight, strategic decision-making, and board independence. While conglomerates can operate with distributed leadership and clear delegation, prolonged periods of executive absence can affect how fast decisions are reached and how operational initiatives are driven.

Wider Reactions and Legal Process

Media coverage of the travel ban and the allegations against Dr. Yaddehige drew wide commentary online, reflecting a range of public responses. Commenters on news platforms expressed differing views, with posts ranging from support for the complainant to defence of the Chairman and assertions of possible business or political motives. These exchanges illustrate the level of public interest in the case and its intersection with perceptions of corporate leadership. 

It is important to note that the allegations remain part of an ongoing legal process and have not been adjudicated in court. Authorities have emphasised that the travel ban is a procedural measure to ensure legal accountability and compliance with investigative requirements.

What Comes Next

As investigators await Dr. Yaddehige’s return to Sri Lanka and prepare to enforce the travel ban with an arrest order, market watchers will also be monitoring how Richard Pieris & Company’s board and senior management respond to these developments.

For now, the company continues to operate under its existing leadership structure, and there has been no major announcement of changes at the board or executive level.

Observers say the situation highlights the complexities of corporate governance when top executives face legal challenges — particularly in diversified, listed groups where continuity of leadership, strategic direction, and stakeholder confidence are critical.