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TRI strike over arrest of scientist
By Nalaka Nonis
The arrest of Tea Research Institute (TRI) director Dr. Ziad Mohamed by police for allegedly making a trip to Japan using TRI funds without obtaining the approval of Plantation Minister Milroy Fernando has triggered a strike by its staff crippling the functions of the institute.

The director was arrested on Thursday by the Nuwara Eliya Special Crime Investigation Bureau following a complaint made to it by the auditor of the TRI that Mr. Mohamed had used the institute funds to make a trip to Japan which wasn’t authorised by the Minister.

Tea Research Board chairman Amarananda Weerasinghe told The Sunday Times that the TRI director who comes under his purview had made the trip to Japan to discuss the Japanese Health Ministry ban on Sri Lanka’s tea that didn’t meet its standards.

He said that however the director had failed to secure the nod from Minister Fernando for the trip on which TRI money was spent. “Dr. Mohamed had obtained approximately Rs. 220,000 to visit Japan”, Mr. Weerasinghe said.
Disciplinary action was taken against the director who has been served a vacation of post letter.

A TRI official who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was normal to make such trips abroad pending approval, considering the significance of the trip and added that Dr. Mohamed had however obtained the approval of the TRI Board for this same trip.

Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Leon Seneviratne ordered Mr. Mohamed be remanded until Tuesday and attempts by Tea Board officials to meet the Minister to discuss the possibility of bailing him out had failed as the Minister was abroad.

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