McDonald’s has decided to cut ties with its business partner in Sri Lanka, leading to the closure of all 12 McDonald’s outlets across the country.
Sanath Wijewardane, an attorney representing McDonald’s, confirmed the termination of the agreement due to unspecified standard issues.
Although the decision to end the partnership was made on Wednesday, the stores continued operations for a few more days. Wijewardane hinted at the possibility of McDonald’s returning to Sri Lanka with a new franchisee in the future.
While the specific issues leading to the termination were not disclosed, local reports suggest that McDonald’s took legal action against its partner, Abans, citing hygiene concerns.
Despite Abans declining to comment on the matter, it is worth noting that the partnership between McDonald’s and Abans dates back to 1998. The closure of McDonald’s outlets in Sri Lanka comes amid the country’s efforts to recover from a significant financial crisis.
