Business
Merrill J. Fernando Foundation & Karan Foundation donate new wing to Point Pedro Base Hospital
The Merrill J. Fernando Charitable Foundation and Ian & Barbara Karan Foundation have together funded and constructed a 90 bed Ward Block to modernize and expand services at the Point Pedro Base hospital.
The Rs. 110 million project serves the people of the Jaffna District, and all Sri Lankans with the construction of a three-storeyed wing housing Psychiatric, Medical & Surgical wards and consultation rooms.
The previous wards were over a century old, and in dilapidated condition, severely limiting the ward capacity for the 150,000 persons the hospital serves. This extension to Point Pedro Base Hospital, is jointly funded by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando through his MJF Foundation and close friends Ian & Barbara Karan.
The facility was declared open on Feb. 26 by Ian & Barbara Karan, and on behalf of Merrill J. Fernando – the Trustees of the MJF Foundation, Messrs Rajan Asirwatham, K. Ravindran and Dilhan C. Fernando. The expansion of Base Hospital Point Pedro will address capacity constraints and assure better provision of public medical and healthcare for local communities with better and increased bed strength of 392 beds.
The MJF Charitable Foundation was established by Merrill J. Fernando in fulfilment of his wish to serve humanity through his family tea business. Acknowledging that success is a blessing that must be shared, he has embedded kindness to people and nature at the heart of Dilmah Tea. The MJF Foundation has extensive scholarship, nutrition, vocational training, disability care, entrepreneurship development, mental health, and gender equality initiatives.
The Ian and Barbara Karan Foundation supports youth development, particularly in Sri Lanka. Through the nationwide promotion of charitable initiatives, institutions and projects, the foundation aims to improve education, and support disadvantaged children and young people in the areas of education and sports.
Sri Lankan family tea company Dilmah was founded in 1985 by Merrill J. Fernando who is today the world’s most experienced teamaker. He championed quality and integrity in tea. When Dilmah offered tea grown, picked, and ethically made at source, it was the first time a tea grower anywhere in the world had brought their produce to market. That pioneering philosophy continues in the uncompromising commitment the family company maintains to Taste, natural Goodness and ethical Purpose. A minimum 15% of the pretax profits from Dilmah Tea fund the work of the MJF Charitable Foundation.
In 2016 the MJF Foundation made a significant contribution to the healthcare system in the North of the island with the construction of an OPD block with an expense of Rs 60 million to ensure that the catchment area of 41,000 people from Kayts and its surrounding seven islands, thereby reducing travel distance to a hospital for the people of the area, eliminating the travel distance of 16km to the next hospital in Jaffna.
In August 2021, The Merrill J. Fernando High Dependency Care Facility was inaugurated at the Nawalapitiya District General Hospital. This Rs. 25 mn. project provides specialised medical care for the predominantly tea estate workers in Nawalapitiya, and the Central Province. District General Hospital Nawalapitiya (DGHN) provided healthcare services for 500,000 people from the surrounding tea estates, and adjacent Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. The hospital capacity was not sufficient to accommodate demand, especially pandemic related patient surges.
Business
IceWarp expands into Sri Lanka, fostering European innovation in collaboration with FentonsIT
IceWarp, a global leader in business communication solutions, has officially launched its cutting-edge platform in Sri Lanka, bringing European expertise in email and collaboration solutions to support the country’s evolving business landscape.
This expansion is driven by a strategic partnership with Fentons Information Technology (FIT), the Information Technology arm of Hayleys Fentons Limited.
The grand launch event held at The Kingsbury Colombo on 4th April, 2025, was graced by several distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mohan Pandithage, Chairman and Chief Executive of Hayleys PLC.
The presence of Adam Paclt, Global CEO of IceWarp, and Pramod Sharda, CEO for India and the Middle East of IceWarp, along with their global team, highlighted the significance of this expansion. Industry experts, government officials, corporate leaders, and CIOs from the banking, financial services and insurance sectors were in attendance as well, reflecting strong local interest in IceWarp’s European expertise.
With this launch, Sri Lankan businesses now have access to an affordable, scalable and secure alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. IceWarp’s advanced Collaboration Suite integrates a wide range of tools into a single, unified platform designed to streamline communication and boost productivity. Offering flexible hybrid deployment options and cost-efficient solution, IceWarp enables organisations to optimise their operations without compromising security or functionality.
Eventistry Sports, a trailblazer in innovative sporting events, has unveiled the Sri Lanka Padel League (SLPL), the nation’s first franchise-based padel tournament, set to debut in June 2025. This groundbreaking league promises to redefine Sri Lanka’s sports landscape by creating a dynamic national platform for athletes while fostering unity among fans, brands, and communities.
The SLPL will showcase six franchise teams, each embodying the spirit of iconic Sri Lankan locales: the Colombo Chargers, Yala Rangers, Hikkaduwa Riders, Ella Hawks, Arugambay Vipers, and Trinco Warriors. These teams will not only ignite regional pride but also unite the country through a shared passion for padel—a fast-paced racquet sport merging tennis and squash, played on enclosed courts.
“The SLPL is more than a league; it’s a movement,” declared Karin Wijeratne, Director of Eventistry Sports. “By blending franchise sports with Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture, we’re creating a platform where players gain national recognition, fans rally behind their hometown heroes, and brands engage with communities in meaningful ways.”
The league’s launch on June 21–23, 2025, at Colombo’s Padel House courts (CR&FC) will kick off with three days of high-octane matches, preceded by a star-studded player auction on May 16th at The Vault, Colombo City Centre. Local talent—both professional and intermediate—will be drafted by franchise owners, with international registrations now open to elevate the competition’s global appeal.
Please log in to: www.slpadelleague.com and social media: @SriLankaPadelLeague (Facebook & Instagram) for more information.
Ceylon Energy and HJT China have successfully completed the Mahiyangana-Kappalthurei 33kV power distribution lines and the Uhana Gantry as part of Sri Lanka’s Supporting Electricity Supply Reliability Improvement Project (SESRIP). Funded by the Asian Development Bank ($42 million), SESRIP aims to expand energy access in underserved regions, including conflict-affected areas and provinces like Uva and North Central.
The project’s infrastructure spans over 270 km of 33kV lines, 13 switching gantries, and 2,372 km of low-voltage extensions.
The projects connect 35,000+ households and improve reliability for 493,000+ consumers; integrates renewables to reduce losses.
The projects’ notable components include: Mahiyangana-Bibila Line: 36 km with 147 steel towers and Kappalthurei-Sixth Mile Post Line: 14 km with 58 towers.
Ceylon Energy Chairman Madushanka Fernando hailed it as a ‘new beginning of a brighter era’, emphasising the project’s role in uplifting rural communities and driving sustainable development.
The initiative underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to inclusive, reliable energy and climate resilience.
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