A former Director of the Tea Research Institute (TRI), M.T. Ziyad Mohamed, who filed a fundamental rights petition after being forced to quit following bogus charges of misappropriation brought against him by the TRI Chairman A. Weerasinghe, has won his case. Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and Justices J. Jayasinghe and Shiranee Tilakawardane ordered that the petitioner, Dr. Mohamed be paid a sum of Rs. 200,000 by the 1st and 12th Respondents, Mr. Weerasinghe and the TRI.

The Sunday Times FT first brought this story to light in 2006 when charges of misappropriation of public funds were levelled against Dr.Mohamed by the then TRI Chairman, Mr. Weerasinghe. During that same time, Dr. Mohamed established his innocence following bogus charges brought against him by the Chairman in April of that year. He was temporarily jailed and sent on compulsory leave. Subsequently, the court dropped all charges of alleged misappropriation against him.

It was further reported in 2006 that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had reinstated Dr. Mohamed but he quit due to the filing of the fundamental rights case against the authorities over his wrongful arrest and defamation. President Rajapakse had also dismissed Mr. Weerasinghe as TRI Chairman.