Business

A life devoted to tea & kindness

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/9

Sri Lanka’s Mr. Dilmah, celebrates 71 years of brewing cups of kindness

The unmistakable face of the Sri Lankan family tea company Dilmah, is Merrill J. Fernando, and his invitation to customers – ‘do try it!’. The first tea grower to offer his tea to the world – picked, perfected, packed at source – and kindness was his cup of tea. The family tea business he formed around an uncompromising commitment to Taste, Goodness & Ethical Purpose offers a playbook for business in a post pandemic era. Faith, determination, dedication to taste, goodness, and ethical purpose characterize the Ceylon Teamaker’s story as he turns 91, and celebrates 71 years in tea.

Milestones are important. They chart one’s progress, whether success or failure. Merrill J. Fernando, the founder of Dilmah, entered the tea trade in 1950, as one of a batch of five local youth to be trained in the art of tea tasting, then the preserve of the British. Despite the unshakeable self-belief that has taken him to his present eminence in the industry, even he would not have imagined the varied successes that he would eventually garner.

Dilmah is, undeniably, the global face of Ceylon tea. The brand, with the image of its founder, has carried the message of the purity and authenticity of Ceylon tea to over a hundred countries in the world. However, it is not only in the promotion of the product that Fernando has made his contribution. Over the years he has lent his weight to many initiatives that have benefited the industry and Ceylon tea in its totality.

In the early years, he championed several initiatives which created facilitations and remedied inequalities which hampered the local exporter of value added tea. The tea industry then represented a long value chain, stretching from the local plantation to the retail market overseas, designed for the benefit of the British, allied multinationals and their local associates. He was successful in interposing his authority on this tightly closed system, with a mixture of guile, confrontation and leverage of influence, for the benefit of the local entrepreneur.

The conversion of many traditional Orthodox Tea factories to the more industrial CTC manufacture, in an uncritical emulation of the Kenyan model, would have become a reality decades ago, if not for his reasoned but unrelenting opposition. Had that proposal been implemented, the diversity of Ceylon tea, its uniqueness, would have been obliterated by the depressing sameness of a mass-market product without individuality.

Similarly, the more recent effort to import cheap tea for blending and re-export, the “Tea Hub” concept, proposed by exporters who were prepared to sacrifice the singularity of Pure Ceylon Tea, in favour of short-term profit and denial of long-term damage, would have been launched if not for Merrill Fernando’s fierce opposition. His was the lone voice raised against this scheme which, had it been implemented, would have temporarily enriched a few but impoverished the hundreds of thousands of producers.

Merrill embodies the philosophy he has always advocated, focusing on the significance that lies beyond success. His desire to share his profits has made an unquantifiable and lasting contribution to his community and beyond. In less fortunate communities in his own country and overseas, thousands of lives have been touched by the initiatives of the Merrill J Fernando Charitable Foundation – all funded by the profits of Dilmah tea. The Foundations’ guiding principle of empowerment with dignity underlines its Settlor’s wish to genuinely & positively impact people.

Then there are the multitude of biodiversity conservation, restoration, environmental education & research initiatives of Dilmah Conservation, again endowed by the profits from tea. As the passionate Teaman celebrates his 91st birthday, his commitment is undimmed. In a corruptible and acquisitive society it is rarely that a successful businessman also becomes a force for the common good. Merrill J Fernando is clearly one of the very few exceptions.

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Business

David Pieris Group expands global footprint with investment in Dubai-based Navire Logistics

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/20

Thilina Walpola

The David Pieris Group continues to strengthen its international presence with the acquisition of 50% ownership in Navire Logistics Services L.L.C, (www.navirelogistics.com) a reputed logistics company based in Dubai and Oman. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the Group’s journey towards expanding its operations beyond Sri Lanka and positioning itself in the international markets.

In Sri Lanka, the Group’s logistics arm, D P Logistics (Private) Limited (DPL), has already established itself as a comprehensive logistics solutions provider — covering warehousing, transportation, freight forwarding, project logistics, inland distribution and custom house brokering.

DPL currently ranks among the top ten players in warehousing and 3PL operations and holds one of the largest container fleets amongst the logistics companies in the country. Despite operating in a highly fragmented freight forwarding market, DPL continues to capture a growing share, reinforcing its reputation as one of the very few local companies with expertise across all logistics disciplines.

David Pieris Group also acquired in 2022, Pulsar Shipping Agencies (Pvt.) Limited, the shipping arm of Expolanka Holdings PLC to expand its Logistics & Shipping Cluster into ship agency, husbandry services and marine logistics.

Leveraging this strong domestic foundation, DPL has now extended its capabilities to the international stage through its partnership with Navire Logistics Services L.L.C. The company’s expertise in custom house brokering, freight forwarding, cargo consolidation, warehousing, and transport solutions will be integrated into Navire Logistics’ operations, enhancing service quality and efficiency across the Middle East and South Asia.

The investment also extends to operations in Oman through a fully owned subsidiary, with further expansion plans already underway to establish operations in Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and India — strengthening the Group’s regional logistics network.

Business

HNB strengthens national response to Cyclone Ditwah

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/20

Thilina Walpola

HNB Managing Director / CEO, Damith Pallewatte, hands over the donation to Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake , HNB Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Wijemanne is also in the picture

HNB PLC has contributed of Rs. 100 million towards the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund, reinforcing its commitment to national recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

“On behalf of HNB, I wish to convey our solidarity with all our fellow Sri Lankans, especially those severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. As a home-grown institution, our connection to the communities we serve runs deep. Many of our customers and colleagues have been directly or indirectly affected, and we are committed to standing with them during this difficult time and supporting them as they rebuild.”

“HNB’s contribution to the Rebuild Sri Lanka Fund is a sign of our commitment to this collective mission. We recognize that this is going to be a long and challenging process, but we stand ready and committed to support both the immediate and long-term recovery effort,” HNB Managing Director/ CEO, Damith Pallewatte stated.

Complementing its direct financial support to the Fund, HNB has also launched a nationwide disaster relief initiative as the first phase of a broader, coordinated response from the bank.

As part of the program, the Bank donated over 2,500 essential relief and nutrition packages to support displaced families, with the consignments formally handed over to the Sri Lanka Army to ensure structured, transparent, and equitable distribution across the impacted areas of Kandy, Gampaha, Kaduwela, and Hanwella, while separate packages were provided to affected employees to strengthen their personal recovery.

Business

ComBank ranked No 1 in Business Today’s Top 40 for 2024–25

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/20

Thilina Walpola

Sharhan Muhseen, Chairman, and Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank

The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been ranked No 1 in the Business Today Top 40 for 2024–25, reaffirming its position as Sri Lanka’s best-performing bank and one of the country’s top five strongest corporate entities for the 17th consecutive year.

Business Today assigned the Bank an aggregate score of 37.65, placing it at the top of its latest ranking of leading Sri Lankan enterprises.

In its presentation of the rankings, Business Today described Commercial Bank as “a beacon of resilience and renewal after a defining year,” noting that 2024 was shaped by strategic transformation, disciplined execution, and unwavering commitment to long-term sustainable growth. The publication recognised the Bank’s strength across key business lines, its deepened customer focus, and a performance trajectory that reinforced its reputation as Sri Lanka’s most resilient and customer-centric financial institution.

Reflecting on the ranking, Mr Sanath Manatunge, Managing Director/CEO of Commercial Bank said: “Being ranked No 1 in the Business Today Top 40 is a powerful endorsement of the discipline, resilience and purpose with which we steered the Bank through a year of tough conditions and decisive transformation. Our performance in 2024 was defined by navigating turbulence without losing sight of our priorities: strengthening fundamentals, supporting customers, and preparing the institution for long-term growth. This ranking is not merely an award; it is confirmation that our strategy is delivering results and that the Bank is firmly positioned to contribute to national progress with renewed confidence.”

Business Today also highlighted the Bank’s record-breaking financial performance during the year. The magazine quoted Mr Sharhan Muhseen, Chairman of Commercial Bank as saying that the Bank had delivered the highest profits in its history, and attributing this outcome to a disciplined focus on efficiency, digital innovation, and customer-centred transformation. These qualities, the publication stated, enabled the Bank to strengthen its market position and make meaningful contributions to economic recovery.

Among the milestones recognised were an equity capital infusion of Rs. 22.54 billion through a rights issue and the raising of Rs. 20 billion in Tier II capital via a debenture issue.