Business

Merril. J. Fernando’s autobiography launched

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/21

Merril Joseph Fernando’s incredible decades-long journey through the Ceylon Tea Industry where he unrelentingly sought to maximize the image of “pure Ceylon tea” as opposed to blends containing a small proportion of Ceylon tea, was launched at Dilmah’s Maligawatte facility where the success story began.

Fernando who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday and is just out of a spell of hospitalization could not be personally present at the event hosted by his two son, Malik and Dilhan, who’s names he combined to coin the brand name well known to tea drinkers the world over. But his well known face and image was widely projected in the auditorium where the event was held.

The book is presented on its cover as “The Story of Ceylon Teamaker Merril. J. Fernando, Disruptor. Teamaker. Servant.”

The over 400-page, lavishly produced volume is not quite a coffee table book in terms of dimension but is very similar though much richer in the substance of its content. Over 200 illustrations complement the text. The production locally by Printcare, a printing and packaging company in whose founding Fernando played a big role and has an ownership stake, is of impeccable quality.

The book which would have been very expensive to produce will be available for sale at Rs. 10,000 a copy. Clearly the inputs would have been close to that price or higher if all costs are factored. All proceeds will go to charitable projects of the MJF group. It’s a must read for all corporate leaders and budding entrepreneurs who would benefit from a role model.

The story-line is gripping and few punches are pulled. Fernando who made many friends and enemies along the way to creating the best know and fully Sri Lankan-owned brand is fond of often saying that “business is a matter of human service.” He has lived by this credo, allocating 15 percent of the profits of his company for charitable purposes.

His son, Dilhan, the CEO of the listed Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, overlooks the social responsibility side of the business with priority given to People, Planet and Profit in that order. The support that Dilmah has extended, particularly to members of the plantation worker community and to the environment is well known and both Fernando as well as his family and companies are proud of it.

Wednesday’s event was attended among others by Printcare Chairman, KR Ravindran, Anura Gunasekera, a tea planter who worked for 10 years with Merril Fernando post-retirement from the plantation sector, Himendra Ranaweera, Deputy Chairman of Dilmah who has long been Fernando’s lieutenant in the business and Malik and Dilhan Fernando all of whom spoke at the event.

Gunasekera’s writing skills are evident throughout the publication. He wrote the book from material provided by Fernando at several long interviews over a period of three years. He said that Fernando’s power of recall was incredible and the necessary documentation had been meticulously preserved over a very long period.

Ravindran who first met Merril Fernando at a Rotary event in Australia – Dilmah first made its name in Australia and New Zealand – and the other speakers drew on a wide range of anecdotes in the principal including one from Malik Fernando who said that the famed masseuse, Don Thomas, who massaged both Merril Fernando and Ranasinghe Premadasa, played a major role in conveying information from each other which enabled clearing the Malgawatte site accommodating much of Dilmah’s warehousing.

(A review of the book will be published next Sunday)

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC Merril. J. Fernando

Up Next

Dr. Indunil Liyanage appointed Condominium Management Authority GM

Don't Miss

SLT-MOBITEL becomes the first telco to offer ‘Eco Channelling Delivery’

Click to comment

Business

Good news on risen foreign reserves exerts buoyant impact on bourse

Published

9 mins ago

2026/01/9

Thilina Walpola

CSE activities were extremely bullish yesterday following Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe’s announcement that Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves had risen to US $ 6.8 billion in December 2025, up US$ 791 million from November 2025.

The Governor provided the estimated economic growth while announcing the Central Bank’s policy agenda for this year.

In December Sri Lanka received budget support loans from the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe

Amid these developments both CSE indices moved upwards. The All Share Price Index went up by 226.81 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 100.01 points. Turnover stood at Rs 12.3 billion with 12 crossings.

Top seven crossings that mainly contributed to the turnover were: Lee Hedges 18.2 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 3.9 billion; its shares traded at Rs 416, Commercial Bank 2.1 million shares crossed for Rs 467.6 million; its shares traded at Rs 215, Ceylon Hotels 429,000 shares crossed for Rs 128.7 million; its shares traded at Rs 300, LB Finance 650,000 shares crossed for Rs 105 million; its shares sold at Rs 152.50, Ceylinco Holdings 31000 shares crossed for Rs 104.5 million; its shares traded at Rs 3400, Melstacorp 200,000 shares crossed tfor Rs 35.7 million; its shares sold at Rs 178.50 and Three Acres Farm 400,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 29.6 million; its shares fetched Rs 740.

In the retail market top seven companies that mainly contributed to the turnover were; Wealth Trust Securities Rs 1.17 billion (55.8 million shares traded), Commercial Bank Rs 509 million (2.4 million shares traded), HNB Rs 370 million (870,000 shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 303 million (three million shares traded), Prime Lands Residencies Rs 283 million (7.9 million shares traded), Lanka Realty Rs 227.5 million (4.7 million shares traded) and HNB Rs 218 million (332,000 shares traded). During the day 223.7 million share volumes changed hands in 55116 transactions.

Yesterday, investor interest in Wealth Trust and banking stocks led to higher activity levels, brokers said. Further, the real estate sector also performed well. Lanka Realty Investments PLC acquired 51 percent of the total number of shares in issue of Lee Hedges, CSE sources said. 13,057,595 ordinary voting shares were bought at Rs 216 each.

Yesterday the rupee opened at Rs 310.12/18 to the US dollar in the spot market, weaker from Rs 310.05/15 the previous day, dealers said, while bond yields opened marginally high.

By Hiran H Senewiratne ✍️

Business

Launch of monograph ‘Development: Not By Economics Alone’

Published

9 mins ago

2026/01/9

Thilina Walpola

The Gamani Corea Foundation (GCF) is pleased to announce the launch of the monograph Development: Not By Economics Alone by Dr. Nimal Sanderatne, Emeritus Chairperson of the Foundation. The foreword to the publication has been written by Dr. Godfrey Gunatilleke, one of Sri Lanka’s most eminent development economists. The launch ceremony will be held on Friday, 9th January 2026, at 4.00 p.m. at the Horton Lodge.

In this monograph, Dr. Sanderatne argues that development cannot be understood through economic indicators alone. He emphasizes that the quality of human capital depends not only on knowledge and skills acquired through formal education, but also on deeper, non-formal processes embedded in a society’s culture and value systems. These influence human behaviour, shaping work ethics, attitudes to work and leisure, capacity for teamwork, preferences between short- and long-term goals, and patterns of saving and consumption.

Dr. Sanderatne is a distinguished economist and academic, holding degrees from the Universities of London, Saskatchewan, and Wisconsin, and was conferred the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the University of Peradeniya in 2004.

Business

AMW commands 55% market share to lead Sri Lanka’s Class A SUV Segment in 2025

Published

9 mins ago

2026/01/9

Thilina Walpola

Jawahar Ganesh – Managing Director - AMW

Associated Motorways (Private) Limited (AMW), a member of the Al-Futtaim Group and the authorised distributor for Nissan and Suzuki in Sri Lanka, has secured a commanding 55% market share to emerge as the clear market leader in the country’s Class A SUV segment for 2025. This milestone performance was driven entirely by the outstanding success of the Nissan Magnite and Suzuki Fronx.

In a year where total Class A SUV sales reached 6,860 units, AMW recorded sales of 3,774 units, the highest achieved by any single distributor in the segment. The Nissan Magnite accounted for approximately 40% market share, while the Suzuki Fronx contributed a further 15%, collectively redefining leadership in this fast-growing category.

The success of the Magnite and Fronx reflects strong alignment with Sri Lankan consumer preferences, offering a compelling combination of bold design, advanced features, fuel efficiency, safety, and value. This performance is further strengthened by AMW’s nationwide sales and aftersales infrastructure, supported by the global automotive expertise, operational excellence, and governance standards of the Al-Futtaim Group. Sales momentum accelerated significantly in the second half of the year, reinforcing sustained demand and customer confidence in both models.

Commenting on the milestone, Jawahar Ganesh, Managing Director of AMW, stated: “This achievement is a direct result of the exceptional response to the Nissan Magnite and Suzuki Fronx in Sri Lanka. Securing a 55% market share in the Class A SUV segment is not just a sales milestone; it reflects customer trust in our products, our people, and our promise of a superior ownership experience.