Business
WISDOM IN THE LEAF

A generation of Tea Inspired Knowledge From Dilmah Tea & its History of Ceylon Tea initiative
Teamaking is an ancient art, framed in science, yet equally demanding of passion and expertise. The Wisdom in the Leaf is a publication that aims to harness the art, science, and knowledge that will inspire tea drinkers and guide Teamakers, through a unique collaboration with the men and women whose passion is a significant component in the reputation of Ceylon Tea. The project was initiated as a tribute to Sri Lanka’s global ‘Teamaker’, Merrill J. Fernando, and to the tea planters who make Ceylon Tea. It is published by Dilmah Tea in celebration of its Founder’s 70th year in tea.
Curated by a committee of tea industry veterans and scientists, ‘Wisdom in the Leaf’ captures the tacit knowledge that is only acquired through experience. The contributors each share their expertise in a seminal work that is an invaluable resource for tea planters of the present and future.
The History of Ceylon Tea project was launched in August 2003 with the objective of sharing ‘One of the greatest stories that has ever been told.’ Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando explained his family’s vision in undertaking the project, “‘Dilmah gained consumer recognition globally on the strength of the finest Ceylon Tea, and it is only logical therefore that we should reciprocate, by giving future generations of Sri Lankans the opportunity to study and understand the heritage of one of the world’s greatest plantation industries. The Sri Lanka Tea Industry is today the lifeblood of this nation and Sri Lanka is best known in many countries for ‘Ceylon Tea’.”
Received with great acclaim by scientists and authors including Dr. S. D. G. Jayawardena (former Chairman of the Tea Research Institute), Jane Pettigrew (tea historian and author of 17 books on tea), Dr Nalini C. Gnanapragasam Sivapalan (former Deputy Director Research at the TRI) amongst others, Wisdom in the Leaf is the most comprehensive compendium of knowledge of Ceylon Tea that has been produced in the past five decades.
20 veteran planters with a collective experience of more than 500 years, contributed their knowledge while eminent scientists including Dr. Tanuja Ariyananda, Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, Dr. Tissa Amarakoon, and Daya Wickramatunga add critical scientific context.
The content spans agricultural, factory and manufacturing practices, the fundamentals of plantation management and important sustainability themes including rainwater harvesting, climate change and the environment. These topics are presented in an engaging style to make the book as readable for tea drinkers with an interest in the provenance of their cuppa, as for researchers and tea planters.
Topics covered include Personnel Development, Human Resources, Forestry and Conservation, Water Resource Management, Diversification, Buildings and Housing, Financial Accounting and Control, Transport, and Climate Change Adaptation.
The final chapter – “From the World of Science” – comprises contributions from reputed names in the scientific community, and cover topics such as Climate Change and Tea, Rainwater Harvesting, Mechanised Harvesting, Biochar, and the Health Benefits of Tea.
The concept for this publication was conceived by Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO of Dilmah Tea, and with his father Merrill J. Fernando’s blessing, this idea evolved into a tribute to tea planters and workers, the stewards of Ceylon Tea. The entire proceeds from the sale of each book will go to the MJF Foundation’s Vocational Training Scholarships for Plantation Youth.
The publication is a by-product of Dilmah’s History of Ceylon Tea (HOCT) project, whose Editor David Colin-Thomé was the Project Leader and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Wisdom of the Leaf’. The 336-page, hard-cover book is a mix of easy-to-read information interspersed with technical data and contemporary and historical photography. The latter includes a selection of never-before published historical images received from private family collections.
The Publication Committee comprised Jayantissa Ratwatte, Vernon Tissera, Bhatiya Jayaratne, Jivaka Atapattu, Kavi Seneviratne, Anura Gunasekera, and Monte Holsinger as the Technical Editor, with David Colin-Thomé as Editor-in-Chief. The contributors are Monte Holsinger, Vige Bede-Johnpillai, Dyan Seneviratne, Vernon Tissera, Jivaka Atapattu, Bhatiya Jayaratne, S.K. Seneviratne, Ernie Daniels, Bernard Holsinger, Saman Munasinghe, Jayantha Jayawardene, Anura Gunasekera, Malin Goonetileke, Sarath Imbuldeniya, Russell Tennekoon, Ryle Perera, Steve Morrell and Nimal Amerasekera. From the world of science, the contributors are Dr. Tanuja Ariyananda Ph.D, Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda B.Sc, Dr. Tissa Amarakoon Ph.D, and Daya Wickramatunga M.Sc.
I am confident that this book is destined to become the Bible of the future planters, University students and many others.
Dr. S.D.G. Jayawardena – Former Chairman Tea Research Institute (2006 to 2015) and former Director General, Department of Agriculture.
I was pleased to see the names of veteran planters, many of whom I have had a close association with at some time or other during the time I was at the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka. Who else other than such experienced men are suited to write a compendium of this sort? Interacting with men of such calibre and imbibing their practical knowledge had helped many of us scientists in designing our field experiments to suit different agro-climatic zones.
Dr Nalini C. Gnanapragasam Sivapalan – Agricultural Consultant & Research Adviser and former Deputy Director, Research at the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka
What is truly remarkable is that information which might appear rather dry and academic in an ordinary textbook is brought to life on these pages through the clever use of typeface, page layout, the division of the text into manageable paragraphs, and illustrations that bring the story to life.
Jane Pettigrew – Tea specialist, historian, writer and consultant. Since 1983, she has been working in the UK and around the world to explain and share the fascinating world of tea.
Business
Dialog delivers a strong first quarter performance

Dialog Axiata PLC announced its consolidated financial results for the three months ended 31st March 2025. Financial results included those of Dialog Axiata PLC (the “Company”) and of the Dialog Axiata Group (the “Group”).
The Group delivered a strong performance across Mobile, Fixed Line, Digital Pay Television and Tele-infrastructure businesses recording a positive Revenue growth of 4% Year on Year (“YoY”) to reach Rs43.3Bn for Q1 2025. On a Quarter on Quarter (“QoQ”) basis Revenue declined by 5% owing to conscious scaling down of low margin international wholesale business amounting to Rs1.7Bn for Q1 2025. Group Core Revenue was recorded at Rs41.4Bn for Q1 2025, up 20% YoY albeit declining 2% QoQ due to days impact. Group Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) recorded a growth of 45% YoY to reach Rs19.7Bn albeit declining 7% QoQ due to moderate decline in core Revenue.
Headline EBITDA margin improved 12.8 percentage points as compared to Q1 2024. The Group Net Profit After Tax (“NPAT”) was recorded at Rs4.1Bn for Q1 2025 up 49% YoY albeit declining 39% QoQ. Dialog Group continued to be a significant contributor to state Revenues, remitting a total of Rs14.8Bn to the Government of Sri Lanka (“GoSL”) during Q1 2025. Total remittances included Direct Taxes and Levies amounting to Rs4.5Bn as well as Rs10.3Bn in Consumption Taxes collected on behalf of the GoSL. The Group continues to remain steadfast to meet growing demand from both retail and corporate sectors, whilst also ensuring seamless experience and leadership in Sri Lankas’ Broadband and ICT sectors. Dialog mobile network was recognised by third party network monitoring platform as the leader across 5G Experience, Coverage and Overall Experience. The Capital expenditure (“Capex”) for Q1 2025 reached Public
Rs3.7Bn representing an increase of 36% YoY. As a result of improved performance and controlled Capex, the Group recorded Operating Free Cash Flow (“OFCF”) of Rs12.3Bn for Q1 2025 up 71% YoY and >+100% QoQ.
In the recent quarter, Dialog was honoured as the ‘Telecommunication Brand of the Year’ for the 14th consecutive year and the ‘Service Brand of the Year’ for the 4th time at the SLIM-KANTAR People’s Awards 2025, held on March 18, 2025. This recognition, awarded based on the voice of the people, reflects the strong affinity with Sri Lankans over the years. Dialog was also recognized at the ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards 2024, winning the ‘Non-Financial Services Category’ for its exemplary commitment to sustainability and transparency. This achievement reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability into its business strategy and operations.
At an entity level, the Company continued to contribute a major share of Group Revenue (74%) and Group EBITDA (72%) during the quarter. Company Revenue was recorded at Rs32.3Bn up 26% YoY due to consolidation of Airtel business and stable pricing in the consumer space. On a QoQ was down 1% owing to days impact. EBITDA was recorded at Rs14.2Bn for Q1 2025 representing a growth of 63% YoY on the back of strong revenue performance and moderation in cost increase. On a QoQ basis EBITDA declined by 21% due to higher Network and Manpower costs. The Company NPAT was recorded at Rs2.9Bn for Q1 2025, up 78% YoY albeit declining 64% QoQ. Dialog Television (“DTV”), continued to consolidate its leadership position in the Digital Pay Television space, maintaining a strong subscriber base of over 1.6Mn as of end Q1 2025. DTV Revenue reached Rs3.1Bn for Q1 2025, remaining stable YoY albeit declining 6% QoQ due to slow down in subscription revenue and days impact. DTV EBITDA was recorded at Rs475Mn a growth of 3% YoY whilst declining 29% QoQ largely in line with the revenue movement. NPAT was recorded at a negative Rs367Mn for the quarter. Dialog Broadband Networks (“DBN”) featuring the Group’s Fixed Telecommunications, Broadband and International Businesses recorded Revenue of Rs9.0Bn for Q1 2025, down 38% YoY and 17% QoQ. The headline Revenue decline was due to the scaling down of low margin international wholesale business. The Core Fixed Business recorded a Revenue of Rs7.8Bn for Q1 2025, up 6% YoY and 2% QoQ. The EBITDA Public for DBN grew 24% YoY and 82% QoQ to record at Rs5.0Bn for Q1 2025, driven by decline in Network and Manpower costs. NPAT reached Rs1.6Bn for Q1 2025 increasing 72% YoY. More details are available at the following links:
Dialog Axiata PLC direct weblink: https://www.dialog.lk/financial-report-archives#quaterly-reports
CSE direct weblink: https://www.cse.lk/pages/company-profile/company-profile.component.html?symbol=DIAL.N0000
Dialog sustainability: https://www.dialog.lk/sustainability
Business
An innovative Rotary program to promote values in children

Season 4 Honda Purudu Championship Finals were held at the Temple Trees Auditorium on the 27th of April, with the Rotary district governor, Sushena Ranatunga, as the chief guest. The governor enlightened the audience, filled with teachers, principals and other educators the importance of bringing back the lost values in our country. He thanked the children for learning and expressing these important values using performing arts and advised them to make them part of their daily lives.
Children in Sri Lanka are navigating a world filled with complex moral dilemmas and often lack the guidance to cultivate essential values like kindness, honesty, and respect. Honda Purudu Championship is part of the Little Minds Strong Values (LMSV) program, conceptualised by Rotarian Rukshan Perera, supported by the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan, and collaborated with the Ministry of Education to roll out to schools around the country. LMSV attracts the children with engaging, value-embedded, video-animated songs that teach core values while inspiring the child
ren to express these values and perform skits in school and join the Honda Purudu Championship through the performing arts. This process aspires to place values education at the forefront of children’s lives (in school and at home) and mould the next generation to become compassionate and responsible leaders.
HONDA PURUDU CHAMPIONSHIP: The annual Honda Purudu Championship further encourages children and schools to participate and sustain these values while winning Awards & Certificates. It is open to preschoolers, primary and secondary schoolers in the Solo and Group categories. As a byproduct, the children continue to enhance their talents in the performing arts.
Season 4 LMSV Championship has made remarkable strides with more than 11,000 children showcasing active engagement nationwide, with schools embracing LMSV values in various innovative ways, benefiting thousands of children. The professional judges selected 140 children, and they were invited to the finals in Colombo. They came from North, South, East and West – Jaffna, Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Badulla, and several other big cities and small towns. Children selected LMSV songs of their choice to eagerly express these values via Song, Dance, Speech, and Drama. In the process, they surprised the audience with their fabulous talents, wearing beautiful costumes, expressing these values in the mediums they enjoy, and elevating the afternoon to an impressive event.
The principals, teachers and other educators spoke very highly of the event; “We are thankful to the Ministry of Education and Rotary for introducing LMSV to schools”, “This is an innovative program for children to build future leaders with good morals”, “Every child must be exposed to the LMSV program to build the future of our country”…etc.
COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE TO DRIVE THE PROCESS: LMSV website WWW.LMSV.LK provides a comprehensive platform that connects educators with integrated tools in one seamless experience. It’s a one-stop shop for teachers, parents, students, and the community to learn the program via online tutorials, guides, and presentations.
This is an annual event organised by the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan, and we welcome all school principals, teachers and parents around the country to help the children join the Honda Purudu Championship and learn these important values for life. Season 5 will begin in May 2025.
Business
Hachajah puts Sri Lanka on the global music map with double win at the CARAs

Sri Lanka celebrates a moment of immense national pride as hachajah – the artistic moniker of Colombo-born singer, songwriter and producer Charith Peris — secures two prestigious accolades at the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs), hosted by the Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA). These global awards, considered the highest honour in recorded a cappella music, have previously recognised internationally acclaimed acts like Pentatonix, now a household name in the genre.
hachajah’s debut EP, No Place Like, was awarded Best Semi-Professional Post-Collegiate Album or EP, while his poignant single Colombo Sky earned Best Song by a Solo Performer. With eight nominations and runner-up honours in two additional categories, this debut marks a breakout moment for the artist – and a significant cultural win for Sri Lanka.
“Winning a CARA was a personal dream. To win two with my first EP is surreal,” hachajah shares. “These awards are an honour to receive, as they recognise my journey, my Sri Lankan roots, and the stories I carry through music.”
Known for his distinctive fusion of pop a cappella with traditional Sri Lankan narratives and musical elements, hachajah crafts songs that are both deeply personal and widely resonant. Drawing from his experiences growing up in Colombo during the civil war, his music explores themes of identity, longing, and cultural memory.
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