Author: Admin

With the climate emergency clouding prospects for farmers globally, Dilmah Tea invited stakeholders in Ceylon Tea to a collaboration aimed at embedding sustainability and resilience into Sri Lanka’s tea industry. The initiative is linked to wider conservation, restoration and sustainable agriculture efforts by Dilmah Conservation, linked to its genesis, nature based solutions program, and its global climate action efforts via the Dilmah Conservation, One Earth Climate Research and Adaptation Centre. The initiative envisages collaboration with Universities and Researchers in strengthening climate resilience on tea plantations through more regenerative forms of agriculture. Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando founded Dilmah Tea with emphasis on family values and a commitment to kindness to people and nature. That foundation is reinforced by his lifetime of devotion to Ceylon Tea until he passed away in July last year. In 2012 the family company established Biodiversity Sri Lanka with the intention of escalating its own efforts at conservation through Biodiversity Sri Lanka into a broader coalition. Recently Merrill J. Fernando’s son Dilhan, now Chairman and CEO of Dilmah Tea, invited stakeholders in the tea industry to a collaboration aimed at driving sustainability in the Ceylon Tea industry. The launch event was held on 1 December 2023 at Dilmah’s ‘Founder’s Auditorium’, where 128 regional plantation companies and representatives of tea smallholders convened. The meeting aimed at collectively addressing concerns and actions towards mitigating threats to the shared future of the tea industry. The focus was on the opportunity in greening the plantations, by supporting livelihoods and strengthening sustainability while mitigating the effects of increasing climate extremes. The opportunity for Ceylon Tea lies in building on sustainability to meet growing demand, strengthen livelihoods and consumer appeal while minimising environmental impact. The theme of the gathering reflected the reality of a shared future, “Stronger Together.” In July 2023, a similar initiative was launched to support sustainability among packaging material manufacturers – the Dilmah-MJF Sustainable Supply Chain Road Map focuses on strengthening capacity of small and medium packaging companies in the area of sustainability. While inviting collaboration for positive change, Dilmah offered support to colleagues and competitors in the industry.  “Sustainability is too often viewed as a cost, when it is in reality an opportunity that builds resilience, strengthens consumer engagement and ensures the survival of businesses that take sustainability seriously,” stressed Dilhan C. Fernando. He added that while Dilmah Conservation had worked on conservation, restoration, climate action and sustainable agriculture since 2007, the “Stronger Together” initiative was aimed at extending those benefits across the Sri Lanka tea industry. Key figures in the tea industry and biodiversity, including Tea Board Chairman Niraj De Mel, Owita Naturals CEO Vihagun Ariyarathne, Anil Cooke of Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC, Conservation Biologist Prof. Enoka Kudavidanage addressed the event. Tea Board Chairman Niraj De Mel has been vocal in the past about the role of smallholder growers in the industry and need to reach production goals, particularly in the areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the event, he also emphasised the relationship between the tea industry and sustainability explaining – “we have destroyed that tea bush by going away from the sustainability code and thereby come into the situation where we say we cannot achieve B60 (leaf program route).Don’t blame it on the weather and the lack of input – we have moved away from basics. If we are to be sustainable, we need to look after the tea bush and that is the only way we can also get into the top end of the tea market.”  Ceylon tea marks 157 years since its inception with a Colombo Tea Convention this year. The uniqueness of the industry has ensured its survival through turbulence, industry change, and transformation while preserving the identity as a universally loved beverage. Dilmah invited the gathered tea plantation community to submit their proposals aligned with carbon emission reduction or higher education opportunities for children in the plantations. After a transparent evaluation, Dilmah’s MJF Foundation will support the most impactful proposals. In fulfilling Merrill J. Fernando’s pledge to make Dilmah a business that serves humanity, the company continues to use a minimum of 15% of its pre-tax profits for kindness to people and nature, via the MJF Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. The environmental and humanitarian efforts of both are documented in ‘Impact,’ an e-publication that can be accessed online [ https://issuu.com/dilmah/docs/impact_2022_family_business_serving_humanity ]. “Stronger Together” is a significant component in this effort, combining environmental and humanitarian priorities in a collaboration that will strengthen the foundation of Ceylon Tea for the next century.

The Curtiss Institute of Design Technology, part of the MJF Foundation Moratuwa Centre, proudly announces the accreditation of its Information and Communication Technology Technician (ICTT) course as NVQ Level 3 by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). This accreditation is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to providing high-quality education and training in the field of information technology. The ICT Technician course, conducted by the MJF Foundation’s landmark Centre in Moratuwa has successfully fulfilled all national competency standards set by TVEC. The qualification awarded in the course includes NVQ Level 2 Units (01 + 02 + 06) and NVQ Level 3 Units (01 + 02 + 03 + 04 + 05 + 06 + 10). Since 2017, a total of 3,588 students have graduated from various ICT courses at the Curtiss Centre. Prior to that, from 2013, approximately 2,500 students benefited from their graphics training program. The recognition by TVEC adds further credibility to the Institute’s commitment to excellence in education. The Institute also extends its impact by providing IT classes for all MJF Kids under the age of 16, children with disabilities at the Rainbow Centre, and students from schools affiliated with the Cricket Live Foundation and the Empower Culinary and Hospitality School. Special training courses have also been conducted for teachers from smaller schools in the Greater Moratuwa area, addressing the digital divide. The Curtiss Institute, named after Darron Curtiss, a key Dilmah partner and friend from New Zealand, facilitates access to e-learning. Over the past seven years, the Institute has made significant progress in increasing access to education at all levels, particularly for marginalized women and youth. Notably, the Curtiss Institute has successfully transitioned its graduates into technology-enabled employment through partnerships with local employers and companies. The Institute collaborates closely with industry stakeholders to tailor training modules and curricula to meet the evolving needs of the job market, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for IT roles. Courses at the Curtiss Institute range from 3 to 6 months, accommodating the needs of school leavers, and employed and part-time students. Students can choose between Information and Communication Technology Technician and Graphics courses based on their skills and interests. The Curtiss Institute takes pride in its alumni, which includes graphic designers employed by foreign companies and IT teachers.  For close to a decade the Institute has remained committed to its mission of equipping school leavers and youth with relevant IT skills, ensuring they are job-ready and capable of thriving in today’s dynamic business environment, a reflection of the philosophy of Dilmah Founder and the Settlor of the MJF Foundation, Merrill J Fernando – that business is a matter of human service.

  A collaboration between European Union, Dilmah Tea and Dilmah: Genesis Centre for A Sustainable Future, this is a competition to encourage sustainable innovations among youth that will reduce, recycle, replace plastic or manage plastic waste more effectively. Six weeks of learning, crafting, testing, and competing began on the 24th of October with the launch of the competition.             The launch featured speeches from the program organisers – The European Union and Genesis Dilmah Centre for A Sustainable Future, encouraging words from mentors, and pitches from the young competitors. For the nine competitors, it’s a race against time to perfect their sustainable innovations for a plastic-free world. This unique experience connects these school and university students with mentors and like-minded peers, all passionate about a sustainable future. One-on-one time and community sessions with knowledge experts who are key players in the plastic waste management and innovation will be a strength for these young innovators who are passionate about making an impact in their community through sustainability. By 4th week of the challenge the competitors will have refined their prototype as per the guidance of the competition mentors. After which their pitches will be re-valuated and the submissions further shortlisted to five finalists. These lucky few will be given the opportunity to pitch at the Demo Day (Finale) and stand a chance to win funding for further developing their innovation. Stay tuned for updates on: IG: genesis_srilanka dilmahconservation   FB: Dilmah Conservation Genesis Sri Lanka .

What is Blue Carbon? Global warming is the result of human activity such as the use of fossil fuels to unsustainable agriculture. This in turn increases Green House Gas Emissions warming the planet and causing dangerous effects from disrupted weather patterns to rising sea levels. Forests help absorb these emissions. But did you know that ecosystems such as mangroves and seaweed forests, are up to 4 X more effective at absorbing Green House Gasses? That’s why they are also known as blue carbon sources. Investing in Blue carbon Seeing the importance of blue carbon ecosystems, Dilmah is strengthening its investments in them through two projects: Defending Mangroves and Afforest Underwater. The former is designed to restore degraded and destroyed mangrove forests while the other looks at sustainable seaweed harvesting. Interestingly both projects adopt a community participatory model. Dilmah realizes that for successful conservation efforts there must be collaboration and participation from different stakeholders and the neighbouring communities. Restoring Mangroves In restoration of mangroves, the work is concentrated in Kalpitiya under the supervision of mangrove expert Dr. Manjula Prasanna. A nursery of mangrove saplings has been nurtured and plantings are being organised at the project site at different intervals rallying different communities in the area.   Apart from the Afforesting Underwater project, Dilmah has also partnered with Biodiversity Sri Lanka, Department of Wildlife of Sri Lanka and several other businesses in the task of restoring up to 25 acres of degraded mangroves in Sri Lanka’s precious Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary. Seaweed Harvesting Through Afforesting Underwater,  Dilmah Tea is training fishermen in Mannnar, Northern Province of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) to practice sustainable seaweed farming.  This collaboration empowers fishermen to shift from fishing to climate-resilient seaweed farming, countering challenges like overfishing and fish migration due to warming waters. Currently at the pilot stage, the project is working with a small number of fishermen in a local community and intends to expands to other locations, based on the insights and experience gained during the lifetime of the pilot project.