Business

Dilmah Night of Plantation Veterans

Published

3 years ago

2023/12/24

Thilina Walpola

Jayantha, Anura and Vernon

By Anura Gunasekera

The elegant Dutch Burgher Union premises was the venue for the annual Planters’ Christmas Dinner, hosted by Dilmah, following a tradition set in place in 2017 by its patriarch, the late Merrill J Fernando. A man with a life-long passion for Pure Ceylon Tea, which contributed much to the success of Dilmah, the hosting of this gathering was his way of honouring the contribution to the industry made by the men, often conveniently forgotten in the celebration of balance sheets of companies brightened by attractive tea production statistics.

Malik, the late Merrill’s eldest, graciously welcomed the guests. Whilst thanking all planters, past and present, for their contribution to the industry, he also spoke of the enduring association between Ceylon Tea, its plantations, and the hospitality industry, emphasizing that the Dilmah, Tea Trails concept owed its success, in a very large measure, to that cherished link.

Whilst Merrill’s influence on the event was palpable, despite his absence, what was heart-warming was the active participation of Amrith and Tasha, the grand-children, ensuring that the tradition was safe in the hands of the new generation; their presence suggested a comforting sense of continuity and respect for a legacy left behind by grandfather, Merrill Fernando.

Malik & Himendra

Events of this nature, especially at this time of the year, generally conjure images of festive over-consumption but the Dilmah, annual planters’ Christmas Dinner has a meaning which goes beyond. It is another aspect of the Dilmah acknowledgement of the debt it owes to plantations and the planters who manage them, and to a great industry in general, also signified by the Dilmah sponsorship of the History of Ceylon Tea (HOCT) website. As Malik mentioned in his brief address to the gathering, the Dilmah, HOCT, is the largest, and the most comprehensive, single- industry website of its kind, in the world.

Worthy of mention is also the publication, ” Wisdom In The Leaf”, sponsored entirely by Dilmah – referred to by plantation specialist Dyan Seneviratne in his vote-of-thanks later- an all-inclusive and wide-ranging collation of practical planting knowledge, set out by some of the most competent practitioners of the profession. The consensus of opinion amongst the many industry specialists who took time and trouble to read the publication was that, whilst research findings on the subjects covered were available in many scholarly scientific journals, no single publication in recent decades addressed the practical application of scientific theory, at tea-field level, in such precise and useful detail.

The gathering itself was a thought-provoking blend of tradition, recognition and the sharing of experiences across the ages, the meeting of men from different generations, but united by an enduring commonality and an interconnectedness- the service of one great industry. There were nonagenarians like Saliya Atapattu and Vernon Tissera, octogenarians Bathiya Jayaratne, Jayantissa Ratwatte and Chula de Silva, men who entered the industry when the “Raj” ruled the enclave, being felicitated alongside later entrants, now in their seventies and sixties. Amongst men nurtured in a protocol driven professional milieu, the respect accorded to seniority was still a given, though. Space constraints do not permit the enumeration of all present by name, but the invitees were, without exception, men of calibre, who had rightfully earned the respect of both peers and successors in the industry.

Amrith & Tasha Fernando

Dyan Seneviratne, in his very fitting concluding address, paid tribute to the late Merrill Fernando, expressing regret at his demise and calling for remembrance, whilst rightly referring to him as the iconic man of the century. He also thanked Malik and Dilhan, the two sons, for loyalty to a tradition set in place by the father. Dyan echoed the sentiments of all those present and that of the plantation fraternity in general, in publicly acknowledging the continuing engagement of Dilmah with the producer segment of the industry, not simply by playing lip-service but actively demonstrating it in various meaningful ways.

Not forgotten by Dyan were team from Dilmah, for the excellent arrangements, and David Colin-Thome, curator of the Dilmah HOCT project. The night’s fare was a firm endorsement of the traditions and the high standards planters have been reputed for.

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Business

USD 57.4m power investment opens new route for SME energy savings

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

A rooftop solar panel in Sri Lanka

By Ifham Nizam

A USD 57.4 million investment package is set to reshape the economics of electricity for small and medium-sized businesses, while creating a stronger platform for private investment in rooftop solar and other distributed renewable-energy projects.

The financing package—comprising a USD 35 million concessional loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a EUR 15.4 million grant from the European Union (EU), equivalent to USD 16.94 million, and a USD 5.5 million grant from the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JFJCM)—will finance a five-year programme to modernise the electricity distribution system from 2026 to 2030.

For the business community, one of the most significant elements is the planned introduction of Virtual Net Metering (VNM), which will be implemented in the country for the first time.

The EU-funded component will support 25 MW of aggregated rooftop solar PV capacity, specifically aimed at helping reduce the electricity-bill burden of small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.

The move could open a new investment channel for SMEs that have traditionally faced difficulties in absorbing high energy costs and making the upfront investment required for renewable-energy systems.

Rather than viewing rooftop solar simply as a household energy solution, the programme positions distributed solar as an important business-cost management tool.

For SMEs, which operate with considerably tighter margins than many large corporates, electricity expenditure can have a direct impact on competitiveness, cash flow and the ability to expand operations.

By allowing electricity generated from qualifying rooftop solar installations to be applied through a virtual net-metering arrangement, the programme is expected to broaden the economic benefits of solar power beyond individual premises.

The financial significance of the scheme extends beyond the initial 25 MW.

By establishing the infrastructure and regulatory framework required to manage aggregated distributed generation, the project could help create greater investor confidence in the development of decentralised renewable-energy assets.

The investment therefore has the potential to leverage additional private capital into the renewable-energy sector rather than functioning solely as a government-funded infrastructure programme.

The financing package is particularly notable because a substantial portion comes in the form of grants and concessional funding, reducing the cost of financing technologies that would otherwise require significant upfront capital.

The ADB loan will support the wider modernisation programme, while the EU and Japanese grant components will help finance renewable-energy integration and technologies designed to strengthen the grid.

At EDL, the investment will upgrade the existing CEBAssist platform with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), a Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERM) system and distribution control centres supported by an Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS).

These systems will give the utility real-time visibility of electricity consumption and distributed generation, allowing it to manage an increasingly decentralised power system more efficiently.

That digital infrastructure is critical to the business case for expanding rooftop solar.

As more SMEs and other consumers generate their own electricity, the distribution network needs to know where generation is taking place, how much electricity is entering the grid and how those flows are affecting local network conditions.

Business

Renault Experience Centre opens at Majestic City

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

Renault has taken another significant step in its return to the Sri Lankan market with the opening of the Renault Experience Centre at Majestic City, Colombo, offering customers an opportunity to discover the brand and experience its latest models.

The Centre was officially declared open by Jawahar Ganesh, Group Managing Director of Associated Motorways (Private) Limited, accompanied by Prasanna de Silva, Director – Sales, AMW. The occasion was attended by AMW management and staff, members of the media, customers, well-wishers and other invited guests.

Located at the lobby of Majestic City, the Centre features three Renault models being introduced to the Sri Lankan market – the Renault Kwid, Renault Kiger and Renault Triber. Visitors can explore the vehicles, learn about their features and specifications, and take advantage of test drives available at the location.

Adding to the convenience for customers, AMW has ample stocks of Renault vehicles available in Sri Lanka, allowing customers to take delivery of their chosen vehicle without having to wait for months for it to arrive. Subject to completion of the necessary documentation and registration, customers can look forward to driving away in their new Renault within as little as one day, making the purchase experience faster and more convenient.

Customers can also enjoy greater peace of mind with a three-year manufacturer warranty, supported by dedicated Renault aftersales facilities to provide professional service and support throughout their ownership journey.

Commenting on the opening, Jawahar Ganesh, Group Managing Director of AMW, said, “We are delighted to welcome Renault back to Sri Lanka and to open the Renault Experience Centre at Majestic City. Renault is a brand with an exceptional heritage, a strong global presence and a reputation for innovation and distinctive automotive design. Through AMW, we are bringing that heritage and experience closer to Sri Lankan customers”.

Business

Dialog and Indira Cancer Trust continue breast cancer awareness initiative through Yeheli.lk

Published

21 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

From left to right: Dr. Sanjeeva Gunasekera, President of the Sri Lanka College of Oncologists (SLCO), and Supun Weerasinghe, Director / Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, illuminate the Dialog Corporate Head Office in pink, joined by Dr. Lanka Jayasuriya Dissanayake, Chairperson of the Indira Cancer Trust, alongside representatives of the Indira Cancer Trust and the leadership of Dialog Axiata PLC, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, marked the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by illuminating its Corporate Head Office in pink, in partnership with the Indira Cancer Trust, to stand in solidarity with individuals and families affected by breast cancer and encourage greater awareness, regular screening and early detection.

Building on previous breast cancer awareness campaigns conducted through Dialog’s Yeheli.lk platform in collaboration with the Indira Cancer Trust, this year’s initiative will continue throughout October under the theme, ‘A Pledge from the Heart’. As part of the campaign, members of the public can visit yeheli.lk to register for a free monthly SMS reminder and take their pledge for early detection throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month.