Dear Friends,
I would like to share an update on the extreme weather events in Sri Lanka recently.
Whilst yet emerging from the triple crises of a 2019 Easter bombing, COVID in 2020 and an economic crisis in 2022, Sri Lanka suffered the impact of Cyclone Ditwah over the weekend. The country was unprepared for the ferocity of the cyclonic storm, one of 16 to have hit us since 2000.The unexpectedly heavy rainfall on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November, affected the hill country and our tea gardens in the Nawalapitiya region in particular. Kandy, Badulla and Nawalapitiya regions were particularly badly affected while the large volume of water from heavy rains induced flooding in other low-lying areas. Over 500,000 people are displaced and several have lost their lives.
While search and rescue operations continue, hampered by damage to roads and transport networks, we have provided shelter in estate schools to displaced persons on our tea estates, and as the weather normalizes, they have started to return to their homes. 14 fatalities have been recorded on one of our estates and damage assessment across others is ongoing. 158 people at Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, MJF Beverages and related group companies were directly affected and are being supported by Dilmah and the MJF Charitable Foundation.
A powerful testament to the spirit that drives our team is the continuing operation of most of our tea factories except for two estates which were significantly affected by landslides and uninterrupted operation of our main packing facility at Dilmah Colombo. As the flood waters recede, a national reconstruction effort is in progress. Dilmah and the MJF Foundation will continue our efforts at ensuring the welfare of members of our team while also addressing urgent needs among the less fortunate people in our communities. These currently focus on nutrition and will evolve to include ration packs with essential supplies including food, hygiene products and clothing. This will be done directly and in collaboration with local authorities for the benefit of the families of our workers, and the wider community beyond our own team.
Thank you for empathizing with us. Please join us in praying for the safety of those affected in other parts of Asia.
Disaster Management Centre and United Nations situation reports
DMC Sri Lanka 2nd December UN Sri Lanka Update 3rd Dec
In response to the many messages and requests received from our partners and friends across the world, we are sharing the details below for those who wish to contribute. All funds received will be channelled through the MJF Charitable Foundation to help communities in areas most affected by this disaster. All contributions will be acknowledged with a formal receipt from the MJF Charitable Foundation and impact updates will be shared on this page.
Account name: MJF Charitable Foundation
Bank: Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
Branch: Foreign Branch
Account number: 1752951103
Bank Address: No.98, York Street, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka
Swift Code: CCEYLKLX