Dilmah’s MJF Charitable Foundation is Supporting Cancer Patients with Free Transport Services
The Merrill J. Fernando (MJF) Charitable Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to community wellbeing through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation (CDF). This MoU is to sponsor the operational costs of three non-emergency patient transport ambulances dedicated to cancer care in Sri Lanka.
These ambulances will serve communities across key regions of the island, spanning from Mullaitivu to Jaffna in the North, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in the North Central Province and from Weligama through Yala up to Badulla in the Southern and Uva regions. The service ensures that cancer patients can travel safely and comfortably to the nearest hospitals, including the National Cancer Hospital in Maharagama, entirely free of charge, regardless of distance or circumstance.
The Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation, an Australian-based non-profit organisation, operates one of the largest ambulance fleets in Sri Lanka dedicated to cancer patient transport. In collaboration with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, the Cyril Dharmawardana Foundation focuses on supporting terminally ill patients by providing reliable, compassionate transport between hospitals and homes throughout their treatment journey. With continued donor support such as from Dilmah, the CDF aims to expand its reach to serve more communities in need.
This partnership represents another meaningful milestone in the MJF Charitable Foundation’s ongoing efforts in cancer patient care and advocacy. In Sri Lanka, the MJF Foundation is supporting the government’s national effort to end cervical cancer by donating test kits to help early detection and improve survival rates for women. A separate floor was built at Suwa Arana, Sri Lanka’s first paediatric palliative care centre, by the MJF Foundation. In Australia, from July 2025, Dilmah has joined hands to support Cancer Council Australia in a five-year partnership.
Dilmah Chairman & CEO Dilhan C. Fernando said, “Forty years ago, my father envisaged a business that serves humanity with kindness to people and nature. Today we strive to offer cups of kindness through our Dilmah tea.”
Rooted in Dilmah’s philosophy of kindness, the CDF sponsorship initiative reflects the belief that business success must be shared to uplift lives and communities. By enabling equitable access to essential healthcare services, Dilmah continues to demonstrate that purpose-driven enterprise can create a lasting, positive impact, transforming lives with compassion and integrity.
