We are incredibly proud to announce that the MJF Foundation’s Empower Culinary & Hospitality School (ECHS) has won the Best Project Sustainability Award 2025 at the The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards!

Since 2016, ECHS has been a unique force, fusing the discipline of culinary excellence with our Founder’s philosophy of kindness. Across our two facilities in Sri Lanka’s east and west, we have provided Worldchefs – World Association of Chefs’ Societies and TVEC-accredited training to over 400 youth from vulnerable communities.
The departure of nearly 78% of Sri Lankas in the beginning of 2025 was attributed to skilled labour, underscoring a critical shortage. ECHS has evolved into a direct and powerful solution to this growing national challenge of skilled labour.


In nurturing holistic professionals — from sons and daughters of plantation workers to young wheelchair users — ECHS helps build a stable, inclusive, high-calibre domestic workforce. The almost 100% employability of our recent graduates is the ultimate testament to this successful model.
We are also delighted that Dilmah Tea was named a Top 10 Corporate Citizen and won the Award for Resilient Practices.
While we appreciate the honours, our work remains driven by our Founder’s vision that ‘Business is a Matter of Human Service.’ By investing in the dignity and future of these young professionals, we continue to fulfill his promise to “Make the World A Better Tea” — through every life we empower.