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Tea exports to Japan still in hot water
Controversy and confusion over TRI director’s position
The charges framed against TRI director Dr. Mohamed Ziad for his alleged misappropriation of state funds over his visit to Japan have been dropped, but the vacation of post notice served on him is yet to be withdrawn.

This has delayed the despatch of an important report to Japan ensuring that exports of Sri Lankan tea to that country remain unhindered. When Dr. Ziad’s case was taken up on Tuesday at the Badulla Magistrate’s Court where he was charged under the Public Properties Act, the Attorney General informed court to drop the charges as the allegations levelled against Dr. Ziad cannot be proceeded with.

Accordingly Badulla Magistrate Leon Seneviratne dismissed the case.
Defence lawyers pointed out that it was a practice that officials travel overseas pending approval.

Immediately after the mission to Japan was over, the participants were supposed to submit an Import Tolerance application to the Japanese Government asking it to accept residual levels of pesticides in tea exports to Japan.

However until Friday this application had not been sent whereas it should reach Japan before Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera visits Japan in the third week of May.

This mission was originally to be undertaken in March. However on the advice of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Japan the members were asked to come with proper statistics to support the case.

During his trip in April Dr. Ziad had made seven presentations to Japanese buyers requesting them to buy Sri Lankan tea. Sri Lanka exports 9 million kilograms of tea to Japan every year.

Tea Research Board Chairman Amarananda Weerasinghe said that although the court charges against Dr. Ziad were dropped he is still considered to have vacated his post as he didn’t obtain the Prime Minister’s approval for the trip, which is a requirement for a Government official.

He said Dr. Ziad could only be reinstated in his post once he furnished the approval letter certified by the Prime Minister. Mr. Weerasinghe said that Dr. Tissa Amarakoon, a senior research officer who joined Dr. Ziad for the trip had Minister Milroy Fernando’s approval which automatically qualified him for the Prime Minister’s approval as well.

The Sunday Times learns that both names for approval for the Japanese trip were contained in the same paper. Tea Planters’ Association General Secretary Malin Gunathilake told The Sunday Times that the TRI director’s participation at the meeting with tea buyers in Japan was required as he had to explain the scientific side of the issue.

He said that the country could have lost considerable tea exports to Japan if the meeting with the Japanese buyers had to be postponed and that was why Dr. Ziad went to Japan.

Mr. Gunathilake said that though Dr. Ziad went on the trip pending approval he had the approval of the TRI board. He added that the meeting has enabled Japanese buyers to be convinced that the so-called pesticidal residue contained in tea was not harmful to Japanese tea consumers and that the buyers had asked the authorities here to continuously monitor tea exports.

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