Dilmah is no stranger to sharing kindness for a worthy cause, particularly in relation to cancer care and treatment. At home in Sri Lanka, Dilmah has a close, long-standing association with Suwa Arana, the first-ever paediatric palliative care facility in Sri Lanka. As you might have seen in previous blog posts, Dilmah is also a supporter of the Government’s programme, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Colombo, to work towards eradicating cervical cancer from Sri Lanka by the year 2030.
So, it was only natural for Dilmah to share this cup of kindness beyond Sri Lankan shores and try to help those affected by cancer in Australia as well. For the past 32 years, Cancer Council Australia has raised over AUD 200 million through its iconic Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea (ABMT) community fundraiser programme. Over half-a-million Australians have partaken in this, by hosting and organising morning teas to raise funds for cancer research, detection, prevention, care and support. Considering that 1 in 2 Australians is affected by cancer in some way or form, the impact of ABMT is not only life-saving for patients, but also life-changing for their families.
As of July 2025, Dilmah has joined hands with Cancer Council Australia in a five-year partnership to support ABMT. Dilmah Chairman Dilhan C. Fernando shared his thoughts on this, stating, “Our partnership with Cancer Council highlights Dilmah’s commitment to Australians impacted by cancer. 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.”
In brewing this ‘cup of kindness’, the partnership directly reflects the philosophy of our late Founder Merrill J. Fernando that ‘business is a matter of human service’. It is also, in a sense, a token of appreciation to Dilmah’s Australian family – its consumers who embraced the brand since it was first introduced to the country in 1985. In fact, Australia was the first international market that enjoyed MJF’s beloved Single Origin Dilmah Ceylon Tea.
For those impacted by cancer, every minute counts. For those doing research into cancer, every dollar counts. That is why we, at Dilmah, are determined to make every cuppa count. If you’re reading this from Australia (or have family and friends in Australia), visit https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/ to find out how you can support our collaborative effort in the fight against cancer.
