Features

The first seed sown in my mind on the need for marketing Pure Ceylon Tea

Published

3 years ago

2023/07/9

Thilina Walpola

The London tea auction

The British were ruthlessly exploiting our tea industry and its workers

Excerpted from the autobiography of Merril. J. Fernando

I was deeply distressed by the ruthless exploitation of our tea industry and its workers, which took place in London. Through my association with British friends resident in Ceylon, and my employers, many of whom were British, I had developed a great respect for them. However, all that was shaken when I realized what was being done in London to our Ceylon Tea.

The British then dominated the global tea trade, with Mincing Lane, the world’s undisputed tea centre, controlling and manipulating the distribution and marketing of tea from grower countries and, thus, holding all producers, especially those in Ceylon, to ransom. We were more vulnerable to market manipulation than any other grower as, even at that time, we were exporting around 90% of our annual national production, with a large proportion of it going to UK.

A very significant weight of our tea, I think around 60 million pounds annually, was consigned then to the London Auction, which was a terminal market. From London, tea was re-exported in both bulk and in value-added form, packaged, and branded, with the main destinations being US, Canada, Northern Europe, and Japan. Initially, most of the packaged tea contained a large component of Ceylon Tea, blended with tea from other, cheaper origins.

However, these diluted blends were always branded and identified as ‘Ceylon Tea’. The proportion of Ceylon Tea in such export blends declined progressively in view of its relatively higher price, but customers, in the belief that they were enjoying pure Ceylon Tea, continued to purchase these diluted blends at premium prices. The growing influence of large brands and the packers’ compulsion to remain competitive in the market, were adversely affecting the quality of the blend.

Apart from London, there were two other major tea blending centres in Europe, causing equal damage to the good reputation of Ceylon Tea. Export companies operating out of Rotterdam and Hamburg engaged in similar exploitation of Ceylon Tea, producing their own brands of so-called ‘Ceylon Tea’. This commercially-effective fiction was reinforced by the attachment of names of our well-known plantations to the brands, duping gullible customers in to believing that their purchases represented genuine Ceylon Tea.

Our authorities in Ceylon, responsible for the oversight of the industry, remained passive in the face of such damaging activities. Counter strategies were never contemplated. It was only later that I realized that the tea industry regulatory and supervisory organs in Ceylon were also actually fiercely protective of British and multinational interests and were complicit in this culture of exploitation, much to the detriment of the local grower and producer. In a later chapter I will deal comprehensively with this aspect of our industry.

Ceylon Tea, which these exporters purchased at very low prices, was sold at levels that were 15-20 times higher in value-added form, after branding and packaging. Allowing for the cost of value addition, marketing, advertising, and promotion, these profits were unfair and unreasonable, whilst our farmers and their workers continued to live in poverty.

The growing influence of brands was also affecting quality. As Ceylon Tea was relatively higher in price than that from other prodestinations, I realised that the proportion of Ceylon Tea in these mass market retail packs would be minimal.

A promise to myself

At the young age of 24, I began to understand the ugly realities of the colonial trading culture. Irrespective of the product, whether it be tea, coffee, or cocoa, its success was based on the exploitation of farmers, growers, and their workers.

In all parts of the underdeveloped world, despite their contribution in skill and sweat, those at the lower end of the production chain, especially the grower-farmer, are still relegated to a marginal existence. However, that effort by the grower at origin has helped develop millionaire traders in Britain and elsewhere in the Western world.

I found it difficult to understand how and why our country permitted the perpetuation of that culture. In my ignorance of the power and outreach of the international trader, and in the brashness of youth, I vowed to myself then and there that someday I would develop my own brand and offer consumers the finest tea on earth – SINGLE ORIGIN, 100% PURE CEYLON TEA – thus bringing integrity and honesty back to the trading of tea.

By marketing my own brand of tea from origin, earnings, which now accrued to foreign traders, would remain in Sri Lanka. I also made a pledge to myself that I would share my earnings with the underprivileged, and bring hope and comfort to our tea farmers, and their families and workers, by making my brand the world’s first ethically-produced tea. However, I was soon made to understand that it was a daydream, a fantasy. A few friends I shared my hopes with were discouraging and sometimes scornful.

Despite the obvious impediments and the lack of encouragement from even those close to me, I never abandoned the idea. Common sense, conventional wisdom, and the prevailing realities of the tea export industry argued strongly against the realization of my dream of a personal, independent brand. However, whilst I pushed it to the back of mind, there was always an inner compulsion that kept the dream alive within me.

Though my career and business interests took me along various different paths over the next few decades, in retrospect, I realize now that what drove me on was the inner conviction, that all those diverse avenues would one day converge in the achievement of that long-held vision – a brand of my own making, developed on the strength of ‘Single Origin, Pure Ceylon Tea’. Naming my own brand ‘Dilmah,’ after my two sons, Dilhan and Malik, many years later was inspirational, but the vision that gave birth to that brand had been in gestation for four decades.

A culture of domination

The culture of the tea export trade I stepped into in 1954 was deeply influenced by the British stranglehold on the industry, which extended from production in the plantations to broking, selling, export-shipping, distribution, and retail marketing overseas. They had first commandeered and then controlled the value chain from beginning to end. It was a prime example of an octopus-like outreach, influencing and manipulating every aspect of the industry.

The centuries of Western colonial domination of this country, commencing with the Portuguese in 1505 and continuing with the Dutch and, thereafter, the British, seemed to have instilled a deep sense of submissiveness in the outlook of the local industrialist. The statutes, regulations, and conventions governing the export trade had been framed according to English law and, obviously, were heavily weighted in favour of the British exporter.

The Britishers’ suppression of indigenous enterprise and innovation was also aided by the local entrepreneur’s docile acceptance of this overriding colonizer’s dominance. Six years after independence from British rule, despite retaining production power within the country, we still remained economic vassals of our colonial masters. The British overlords of our economy had indoctrinated their native successors, the ‘Brown Sahibs,’ very well.

After my very enlightening stay in London, the world’s tea centre, I returned to Ceylon and to the realities of earning a living and resumed my work at A. F. Jones Co. Ltd. The Chairman of Joseph Travers & Sons Ltd., Russell Shaw, had sent very favourable reports about my work in London to Dennis Jones. Shortly after my return, I asked Dennis why we did not export value-added tea. His honest answer was, “We don’t know how to do that. The best place for that is London.”

Whilst I disagreed silently, I bowed to his opinion as, at that time, I was in no position to make a difference. I resumed the business of bulk tea exports, which grew steadily. In addition to the two sons, Dennis and Alan, there was Terrence Allan, a brilliant taster, and Geoff Law, the CFO. They were particularly nice to me, which caused some resentment among the other executives. That made life in the company difficult for me in my early years.

Within my first year of employment I acquired a good understanding of all the aspects of the tea trade and, importantly, of my own choice, I studied factory operations, shipping, finance, and all other related segments of the trade. In my second year, whilst Alan Jones and Terrence Allan were on leave in the United Kingdom, Dennis contracted hepatitis and was hospitalized. I was suddenly compelled to handle most of the key operations alone. I was genuinely frightened by the responsibilities and, on a visit to Dennis in hospital, shared my fears with him.

Dennis demonstrated greater confidence in my competence than I did and said: “Merrill, you are capable of handling all the business issues; just do your best.” Perhaps inspired by his faith in me, I managed the correspondence, tea contracts, blends, and other related work, praying that I would not make any mistakes. Quite surprisingly, I was also able to sell an unusual amount of tea during this period, handling the complexities of blending and shipping without any problems.

When Dennis returned to work three weeks later, I requested him to check all the blends I had prepared in his absence. His immediate response was: “I don’t want to know; you have done a great job.” However, I persuaded him to taste all the blends.

He did so and said: “Full marks, Merrill.” Obviously, my unsupervised contribution in the absence of the proprietors had bolstered their confidence in me, and I found that they were soon permitting me greater latitude for independent decision making and action. The Joneses began to treat me as one of the family and I enjoyed working with them. Their confidence in me was further affirmed when I was appointed to the Board of the company in March 1958.

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Features

A long-running identity conflict flares into full-blown war

Published

16 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei / President Donald Trump

It was Iran’s first spiritual head of state, the late Ayatollah Khomeini, who singled out and castigated the US as the ‘Great Satan’ in the revolutionary turmoil of the late seventies of the last century that ushered in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The core issue driving the long-running confrontation between Islamic Iran and the West has been religious identity and the seasoned observer cannot be faulted for seeing the explosive emergence of the current war in the Middle East as having the elements of a religious conflict.

The current crisis in the Middle East which was triggered off by the recent killing of Iranian spiritual head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a combined US-Israel military strike is multi-dimensional and highly complex in nature but when the history of relations between Islamic Iran and the West, read the US, is focused on the religious substratum in the conflict cannot be glossed over.

In fact it is not by accident that US President Donald Trump resorts to Biblical language when describing Iran in his denunciations of the latter. Iran, from Trump’s viewpoint, is a primordial source of ‘evil’ and if the Middle East has collapsed into a full-blown regional war today it is because of the ‘evil’ influence and doings of Iran; so runs Trump’s narrative. It is a language that stands on par with that used by the architects of the Iranian revolution in the crucial seventies decade.

In other words, it is a conflict between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ and who is ‘good’ and who is ‘evil’ in the confrontation is determined mainly by the observer’s partialities and loyalties which may not be entirely political in kind. It should not be forgotten that one of President Trump’s support bases is the Christian Right in the US and in the rest of the West and the Trump administration’s policy outlook and actions should not be divorced from the needs of this segment of supporters to be fully made sense of.

The reasons for the strong policy tie-up between Rightist administrations in the US in particular and Israel could be better comprehended when the above religious backdrop is taken into consideration. Israel is the principal actor in the ‘Old Testament’ of the Bible and is seen as ‘the Chosen People of God’ and this characterization of Israel ought to explain the partialities of the Republican Right in particular towards Israel. Among other things, this partiality accounts for the strong defence of Israel by the US.

For the purposes of clarity it needs to be mentioned here that the Bible consists of two parts, an ‘Old’ and ‘New Testament’ , and that the ‘New Testament’ or ‘Message’ embodies the teachings of Jesus Christ and the latter teachings are seen as completing and in a sense giving greater substance to the ‘Old Testament’. However, Judaism is based mainly on ‘Old Testament’ teachings and Judaism is distinct from Christianity.

To be sure, the above theological explanation does not exhaust all the reasons for the war in the Middle East but the observer will be allowing an important dimension to the war to slip past if its importance is underestimated.

It is not sufficiently realized that the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979 utterly changed international politics and re-wrote as it were the basic parameters that must be brought to bear in understanding it. So important is the Islamic factor in contemporary world politics that it helped define to a considerable degree the new international political order that came into existence with the collapsing of the Cold War and the disintegration of the USSR .

Since the latter developments ‘political Islam’ could be seen as a chief shaping influence of international politics. For example, it accounts considerably for the 9/11 calamity that led to the emergence of fresh polarities in world politics and ushered in political terrorism of a most destructive kind that is today disquietingly visible the world over.

It does not follow from the foregoing that Islam, correctly understood, inspires terrorism of any kind. Islam proclaims peace but some of its adherents with political aims interpret the religion in misleading, divisive ways that run contrary to the peaceful intents of the faith. This is a matter of the first importance that sincere adherents of the faith need to address.

However, there is no denying that the Islamic Revolution in Iran of 1979 has been over the past decades a great shaper of international politics and needs to be seen as such by those sections that are desirous of changing the course of the world for the better. The revolution’s importance is such that it led to US political scientist Dr. Samuel P. Huntingdon to formulate his historic thesis that a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ is upon the world currently.

If the above thesis is to be adopted in comprehending the principal trends in contemporary world politics it could be said that Islam, misleadingly interpreted by some, is pitting a good part of the Southern hemisphere against the West, which is also misleadingly seen by some, as homogeneously Christian in orientation. Whereas, the truth is otherwise. The West is not necessarily entirely synonymous with Christianity, correctly understood.

Right now, what is immediately needed in the Middle East is a ceasefire, followed up by a negotiated peace based on humanistic principles. Turning ‘Spears into Ploughshares’ is a long gestation project but the warring sides should pay considerable attention to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s memorable thesis that the world needs to transition from a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ to a ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’. Hopefully, there would emerge from the main divides leaders who could courageously take up the latter challenge.

It ought to be plain to see that the current regional war in the Middle East is jeopardising the best interests of the totality of publics. Those Americans who are for peace need to not only stand up and be counted but bring pressure on the Trump administration to make peace and not continue on the present destructive course that will render the world a far more dangerous place than it is now.

In the Middle East region a durable peace could be ushered if only the just needs of all sides to the conflict are constructively considered. The Palestinians and Arabs have their needs, so does Israel. It cannot be stressed enough that unless and until the security needs of the latter are met there could be no enduring peace in the Middle East.

Features

The art and science of communicating with your little child

Published

16 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

The two input gateways of communication, sight and sound, are quite well developed at birth. In fact, the auditory system becomes functional around 24 weeks in the womb, and the normal newborn can hear quite well after birth. However, the newborn’s vision is a little blurry at birth, and the baby sees the world in shades of grey, while being able only to focus on things 20 to 30 cm (8–12 inches) away. Coincidentally, this is perhaps the exact distance to a mother’s face during breastfeeding. By 2-3 months, there are colour vision capabilities and the ability to track. By 5-8 months, there is depth perception, and by 12 months, there is adult clarity of vision.

By the time a child turns five, his or her brain has already reached 90% of its adult size. This astonishing physical growth is not just happening on its own; it is, to a certain extent, fuelled by experience, and the most vital experience a young child can have is communication with his or her parents.

Modern developmental neuroscience has shifted our understanding of how children learn. We used to think babies were passive sponges, slowly absorbing the world. We now know they are active characters from day one, constantly seeking interaction to build the architecture of their minds. This architecture is not built by apps, vocabulary flashcards, or educational television. It is built through simple, loving, back-and-forth interactions with anyone they come across, but mostly their parents.

The Foundation: Serve and Return (0–12 Months)

Communication with an infant from birth to one year of age begins long before they speak their first word. In the first year, the goal is to master a phenomenon called Serve and Return. This is a basic scenario picked up from the game of tennis. At the start of each game of a set in tennis, a player serves, and the opponent returns the serve. Just imagine a tennis match, where a baby “serves” by making a sound, making eye contact, reaching for a toy, or crying. The job of anyone in the vicinity, who very often are the parents of the baby, is to “return” the ball. If they babble, you babble back. If they point at a cat, you look and say, “Yes, that’s a furry cat!” This simple act does two things. The first is Brain Building, which creates and strengthens neural pathways in the language and emotional centres of the brain. The other is Emotional Security, a thing which teaches a baby that he or she has some help in the learning processes. The baby absorbs the notion that when he or she signals a need, his or her world will respond. This forms the basis of a secure attachment. Scientists have advocated that during this stage, people, especially the parents of a baby, should embrace what is called ‘parentese’. It is the use of a somewhat high-pitched, exaggerated voice. Research has shown that babies pay more attention to parentese than to regular adult speech, helping them to map the sounds of their native language more quickly.

The Language Explosion: Toddlers (1–3 Years)

When a child starts speaking words, the game changes considerably and quite profoundly. This period is defined by a rapid increase in his or her vocabulary and the beginning of grammar. It is very important to narrate everything. The people around, especially the parents, need to become kind of sports commentators for your life. While dressing them, one could say, “First we put on the red sock. After that, we put the other red sock on your left foot.” What we are doing by this is to give them the labels for the world they see.

It is also important to expand, but not truly correct, whatever the child says. If a toddler points to a car and says “Car!”, don’t just say “Yes.” Expand on it: “Yes, that is a big, fast, red car!” You are adding a new vocabulary and grammatical structure through a natural process. If the child says “Me go,” respond with, “Yes, you are going!” rather than correcting and saying “No…, you should say ‘I am going’.”

Toddlers love reading the same book, even one hundred times. While it may be tedious for those around the baby, it is important to realise that such repetition is vital for their learning. They are predicting what comes next, which is a core cognitive skill.

The Preschooler: Building Stories and Logic (3–5 Years)

By age three, the focus shifts from “what” to “why.” Preschoolers are beginning to understand complex emotions, time, and causality. This is the age at which it is best to ask questions which require thought and understanding. Such indirect open-ended questions would sound like “What was the best part of the park today?” or “How do you think that character in the story is feeling?“

A preschooler’s world is full of “big feelings” they cannot yet manage. When they are upset because they cannot have a cookie, avoid saying “Don’t cry over nothing.” Instead, name the emotion: “Don’t cry, you can have a cookie after dinner“. This teaches them emotional literacy. Parents and others around in the home could share stories about when they were little, or make up fantasy tales together. Storytelling teaches sequential logic (beginning, middle, end) and strengthens their imagination.

The Absolute Master Class: Learning Through Play

If communication is the fuel for brain development, play is the engine. For a child under five, play is not a break from learning; play is learning. It is how they explore physics (stacking blocks), mathematics (sorting shapes), social dynamics (sharing toys), and language (pretend play). We can boost their development exponentially by weaving communication into their play.

When a child is playing with blocks, dough, or puzzles, they are building fine motor skills and spatial awareness. It is also useful to use three-dimensional words: “Can you put the blue block on top of the red one?” “The puzzle piece is next to your knee.” One could also ask them to describe the texture: “Is the dough soft or hard?“

Pretend play, such as acting as a doctor, an engineer, a chef, or a superhero, is one of the most cognitively demanding things a child can do. It requires them to understand symbolic thought and to take on another person’s perspective. Join their world as a supporting character, not the director. If they are the doctor, ask, “Doctor, my teddy bear’s tummy hurts. What should I do?” This encourages them to use vocabulary relevant to the scenario and practice complex social problem-solving.

Playing with water, sand, slime, or safe food products allows children to process sensory information. This is the perfect time for descriptive vocabulary. Use contrasting words: wet/dry, hot/cold, sticky/smooth, loud/quiet.

A few special words for parents. You do not need an expensive degree or specialised toys to build your child’s brain. The most powerful tool you have is your own responsiveness. Modern science tells us that the basic recipe for a thriving child is simple: Look at them when they signal you. Respond with warmth and words. Narrate their world and Join their play.

You are not just talking to your child; you are building his or her future, even via just one conversation at a time. So, go on talking to your child and even make him or her a real-life chatterbox.

Dr B. J. C. Perera

MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paediatrics), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lond), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony. FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL)

Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Features

Promoting our beauty and culture to the world

Published

16 hours ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tourism is very much in the news these days and it’s certainly a good sign to see lots of foreigners checking out Sri Lanka.

With this in mind, Ruki’s Model Academy & Agency recently had a spectacular event to select Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka in order to promote Sri Lanka in the international scene.

Nimesha Premachandra was crowned Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026.

She says she owes her success to Ruki (Rukmal Senanayake), the National Director and model trainer, and personality and advocacy trainer Tharaka Gurukanda.

Nimesha is a school teacher by profession, an actress and TV presenter by passion, and an entrepreneur by spirit.

She believes in balancing grace with purpose, and using her platform to inspire women, while promoting the beauty and culture of Sri Lanka to the world. And this is how our Chit-Chat went:

Nimesha Premachandra: Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026

01. How would you describe yourself?

I am a passionate, disciplined, and people-oriented person. I love learning, performing, and guiding others, especially young minds, through education.

02. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would probably try to be less self-critical and allow myself to celebrate achievements more often.

03. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

Nothing major. I am grateful for my family’s love and support, which has shaped who I am today.

04. Is Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka your very first pageant?

No. I have been part of pageants before, but Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka is very special because it represents purpose, culture, and global representation.

05. What made you take part in this contest?

I wanted to represent Sri Lanka internationally and use this platform to promote tourism, culture, and women’s empowerment.

06. Obviously, you must be excited about participating in the grand finale, in Vietnam; any special plans for this big event?

Yes, I am extremely excited. My focus is to showcase Sri Lankan elegance, hospitality, and authenticity, while building meaningful connections with participants from around the world.

07. How do you intend promoting tourism, in Sri Lanka, during your rein?

I plan to highlight Sri Lanka’s diverse experiences in culture, heritage, wellness, nature, and local hospitality through media appearances, digital storytelling, and tourism collaborations.

08. School?

Kaluthara Balika. School life played a big role in shaping me. I actively participated in sports and performing arts, which later helped me build confidence as an actress and presenter.

09. Happiest moment?

Being crowned Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026 and seeing the pride in my family’s eyes – definitely one of my happiest moments.

10. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Peace of mind, good health, and being surrounded by the people I love while doing work that has meaning.

11. Which living person do you most admire?

I most admire Angelina Jolie because she beautifully balances her work as an actress with meaningful humanitarian efforts. She uses her global platform to support refugees, advocate for human rights, and inspire women to be strong, compassionate, and independent.

12. Which is your most treasured possession?

My memories and experiences because they remind me how far I’ve come, and keep me grounded.

13. Your most embarrassing moment?

Like everyone, I’ve had small on-stage mishaps, but they always taught me to laugh at myself and move forward confidently.

14. Done anything daring?

Participating in pageants while balancing teaching, media work, and family life has been one of the boldest and most rewarding decisions I’ve made.

Keen to use her title to promote Sri Lanka globally

15. Your ideal vacation?

A peaceful destination surrounded by nature; somewhere I can relax, reconnect, and experience local culture.

16. What kind of music are you into?

I enjoy soft, soulful music because it helps me relax and stay inspired.

17. Favourite radio station:

I enjoy stations that blend good music with meaningful conversation and positive energy.

18. Favourite TV station:

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. It’s where it all began for me. It played a significant role in my journey as a TV presenter and helped shape my confidence and passion for media.

19 What would you like to be born as in your next life?

Someone who continues to inspire others because making a positive impact is what matters most.

20. Any major plans for the future?

I hope to expand my work in media and entrepreneurship while continuing my role as an educator and using my title to promote Sri Lanka globally.