Author: Nathasha Silva
Grey2Green Gathers Momentum
What happens when young minds and experienced voices come together to rethink urban spaces? That’s exactly how the first Grey2Green session began at the One Earth Centre, Moratuwa. The session kicked off with an energetic icebreaker, where participants teamed up across age and experience to suggest one green change for a given space. The ideas flowed quickly from plants as natural noise barriers along busy roads, to edible gardens and green walls, setting the tone for a session rooted in creativity and practical thinking. The momentum continued with a key presentation by Ms. Saduni Alahendra, Researcher in Urban Trees and Forestry, Colombo Municipal Council, as she shared valuable insights on urban greening, highlighting what to watch out for when designing green spaces in cities, and deepening participants’ understanding of urban forestry. The presentation was delivered in both English and Sinhala, enabling wider participation and engagement. The Q&A was particularly fruitful, giving us a chance to hear the audience’s perspective as they shared feedback, reflected on progress, and discussed challenges and the way forward for urban greening efforts. The session concluded with another hands-on group activity, this time applying the knowledge from the presentation. Teams worked on different spaces, from temple grounds to university environments using drawing, planning, and design skills to decide which plants should go where. Each choice came with clear reasoning, highlighting the importance of thoughtful plant selection in creating greener, more sustainable urban spaces, with insights from our presenter to suggest improvements or better plant choices where needed. Overall, the session was highly effective, engaging, and practical, setting a strong foundation for what’s to come. Stay tuned! Details of the next Grey2Green session will be shared soon.
12 Days of Christmas!
This Christmas, we turned the season of giving into a gentle reminder of what truly matters – kindness, to people and to the planet. Through our 12 Days of Christmas series on Dilmah’s Instagram pages, we shared stories from across Dilmah Conservation and the MJF Charitable Foundation, reflecting the ultimate vision of our Founder: kindness. From caring for communities, awareness, empowerment and advocacy to protecting ecosystems, here’s a glimpse of the initiatives we celebrated: On the first day of Christmas,Little hands giving hope —preschoolers helping children rebuild after floods. Our preschoolers from the MJF Foundation Moratuwa Centre became little volunteers- helping collect and send brand-new school essentials to children in the Central Province who lost everything. On the second day of Christmas,Sharing space with leopards — science and coexistence in the highlands The misty highlands of Sri Lanka are home to the Sri Lankan leopard, who also moves through the Dilmah Queensberry Estate. Together with @leopoconsrilanka, we use research, technology, and community partnerships to better understand these elusive cats, and create safer spaces where people and wildlife can coexist. On the third day of Christmas,Oceans that protect us — making the invisible value of blue carbon visible. “Without a living ocean, we won’t have a living planet.” To make their value visible, we are partnering with Prof. Meththika Vithanage and the Ecosphere Resilience Research Center to measure carbon storage in Sri Lanka’s mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, helping guide protection, policy, and investment for a safer, more resilient future. On the fourth day of Christmas,Secret Santas sharing time, laughter, and joy with children at CCCPDD. Our team at Dilmah Sri Lanka spent time at the Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy & other Developmental Disorders (CCCPDD), operated by the MJF Foundation, sharing gifts, laughter, and meaningful moments with over 90 children and youth. On the fifth day of Christmas,Caring for wildlife keeps the land healthy and thriving — our model tea garden at Queensberry Estate blends bat conservation with natural pest control. Bats play a vital role in keeping ecosystems balanced, yet they are often misunderstood. At the model tea garden in Queensberry Estate, we combine bat conservation with natural pest control, allowing bats to thrive while reducing the need for chemical pesticides. On the sixth day of Christmas,A shared Christmas lunch — celebrating belonging with Lasallian preschoolers. Together with the Lasallian Community Education Services Centre, the MJF Foundation hosted a Christmas lunch for over 140 preschoolers in Mutwal to celebrate the end of their preschool journey. On the seventh day of Christmas,Students learning from nature — protecting pollinators through sustainable beekeeping. At the One Earth Centre, Moratuwa, students from local universities learn through real-world experience, from sustainable beekeeping to environmentally responsible farming. Since 2024, more than 300 students have gained practical knowledge that supports both nature and future livelihoods. On the eighth day of Christmas,Dreams revived at the People’s Market — empowering small entrepreneurs to rise again. Partnering with t-Lounge by Dilmah, we hosted our first two-day market in Colombo, supporting over 30 micro-entrepreneurs to rebuild, reconnect, and step into the festive season with hope. On the ninth day of Christmas,Education with purpose — hands-on learning that nurtures people and planet. Children from underprivileged communities often have few chances to experience nature. Recently, children from the MJF Foundation visited Beddagana Wetland Park, exploring trails, observing wildlife, and discovering the wonders of wetlands for the first time. On the tenth day of Christmas,Friendships that crossed borders — standing with tea garden families in times of crisis. For 8 years, our partners Tokai Co-op and Waltz & Co. (Japan) have supported preschoolers from our tea garden communities. This year, despite landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah, they showed up. Their visit expanded into emergency support for flood-affected families On the eleventh day of Christmas,Art speaking for wildlife — creativity inspiring care for endangered species. Art is a universal language and a powerful voice for conservation. We recently hosted a special talk by veteran wildlife artist Gamini Ratnavira at Genesis by Dilmah: Centre for a Sustainable Future. On the twelfth day of Christmas,Cashew trees and community strength — growing climate-resilient livelihoods together. The Dilmah Cashew Project in Kalkudah, at pilot stage, supports 20 smallholder farmers across 20 acres, providing saplings, land preparation support, and training. By focusing on both farming and local cashew processing led by trained community women, we create jobs, strengthen incomes, and keep value within the community. These weren’t just Christmas stories. They were 12 small reminders of what we strive to do every day, creating positive impact through kindness, sustainability, and shared responsibility. Twelve days. One message. Kindness — all year round.
Turning Factory Waste into Christmas Decor
Christmas is often associated with new decorations, bright lights, and excess. This year, in the wake of recent disasters that affected the country, we chose to tone down traditional celebrations and focus on giving back, rather than indulging in excess. But that didn’t mean no celebration, instead, at this year’s “Find Your Inspiration” event, we found a more meaningful option: creating Christmas decorations using what was already at hand. Our factory staff were given the opportunity to craft decorations using only factory waste materials, a concept we had tried in a previous year and felt was especially fitting this time. These were few of the materials that were available to them, and this was what they created. Over the month of November, staff used their free time to design and build decorations, mainly Christmas trees, each one completely unique, full of imagination, patience, and thoughtful use of materials. No two designs were alike. What stood out most was how ordinary waste was transformed into festive pieces, proving that creativity doesn’t need new resources – just a fresh perspective. Creativity with a Purpose The activity was guided by clear objectives: Despite using similar waste materials, every decoration told a different story. The diversity in designs highlighted not only creativity, but also how each individual approached the challenge in their own way. Judging Criteria Entries were judged under the following criteria: The judging process celebrated effort, innovation, and thoughtful execution – not perfection. Winning Entries Here are our winners: Individual Category Group Category Congratulations to all! That’s proof that Christmas can be celebrated in an environmentally responsible way. “Find Your Inspiration” at Dilmah looks forward to bringing more inspiring initiatives next year.
On the Edge
Rethinking climate risk in Sri Lanka’s plantation heartlands was the focus of On the Edge – a timely event, in collaboration with Biodiversity Sri Lanka, held at Genesis by Dilmah, following the fatal impacts of Cyclone Ditwah. Mr. Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of Dilmah Ceylon Tea, in his welcome address, set the stage by emphasising why climate resilience, land use, and communities must be seen as deeply interconnected. Followed by four expert presentations by Prof. Buddhi Marambe, Prof. D.K.N.G. Pushpakumara, Dr. Keerthi Mohotti, and Mr. Binesh Pananwala, bringing together perspectives from climate science, landscape ecology, the tea value chain, and ground-level plantation management, moving into a panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Tharuka Dissanaike from the UNDP. The discussion went beyond recounting damage. Instead, it asked a deeper question: Are our plantation systems designed for the climate reality we now face? “Disasters don’t happen in isolation, they expose the cracks in our systems.” Climate Risk: More Than Just Extreme Weather Using Cyclone Ditwah as a case study, Prof. Buddhi Marambe from the University of Peradeniya explained that the damage was not caused by strength alone, but by slow movement and prolonged rainfall. “Disasters are not just about how strong an event is, but how long communities are exposed to it.” Sri Lanka already has climate data, disaster-prone area maps, and risk models. The challenge is not the lack of information, it is how rarely this data is used in planning and policy decisions. Climate adaptation, he stressed, must focus on early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, financial tools, strong governance, and community action, not reactive responses after damage is done. “Adaptation cannot happen in silos. Policy alignment across sectors is essential.” Landslides Don’t Start Where They End Prof. D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara reminded the audience that landslides are landscape-level phenomena. The visible site of damage is rarely the real cause. “Think systems, not symptoms.” What happens in upper catchments directly affects communities downstream. Natural forests remain one of the strongest defences against slope failure, and where forests are fragmented, biodiversity-rich tea landscapes can help bridge the gap. Well-managed tea lands, when designed thoughtfully, can reduce disaster risk while still supporting livelihoods. When Climate Shocks the Tea Value Chain Dr. Keerthi Mohotti, former Director/CEO of the Tea Research Institute, outlined how Cyclone Ditwah disrupted the entire tea value chain, from soil stability and transport to labour, infrastructure, and bush health. Traditional land classification based on soil type or past yields is no longer enough. “Disaster risk must now be built into land-use planning.” Future-ready plantations must adopt agroforestry, terrain-specific practices, mechanisation, smart technologies, and stronger social safeguards. Disaster preparedness including worker safety and evacuation planning must be embedded into existing certification systems such as HACCP and Rainforest Alliance. Ground Reality: Risk Has Fundamentally Changed Speaking from lived experience, Binesh Pananwala, CEO of Kahawatte Plantations PLC, challenged the belief that plantations are naturally resilient simply because they have existed for over 200 years. “That assumption no longer holds.” Recent disasters revealed a major weakness: communication failures. Some regions were cut off for days, and a fatal landslide went unreported due to inaccessibility. Plantations today support nearly 989,000 residents, far beyond their direct workforce. Labour shortages, reduced land control, and unregulated cultivation have increased vulnerability. “Preparedness weakens when land use, livelihoods, and responsibility fall out of sync.” He also shared Dilmah’s GPS-based landslide risk mapping initiative, enabling rainfall monitoring, soil movement tracking, and predictive modelling, a tool with potential benefits for the wider industry. This panel discussion was born from the vision of Ms. Medini Igoor, whose idea sparked a timely collaboration with Biodiversity Sri Lanka, not just to address immediate disaster recovery, but to look at the bigger picture of climate resilience, landscape management, and the future of Sri Lanka’s plantation heartlands. What the Panel Agreed On “Resilience is not just about recovery — it is about redesign.” Stronger state regulation, enforcement, and private sector participation are critical. On the Edge made it clear: Resilience will not come from reacting to disasters, but from rethinking landscapes, governance, and how we live with a changing climate.
Honoured & Grateful – Dilmah’s Commitment Recognised in 2025
We are humbled to share a few meaningful recognitions that reflect the heart of who we are; a family business built on kindness, integrity, and a deep responsibility to people and nature. Dilmah has been named ‘Most Influential’ at the 2025 Sustainability Tracker Awards in Australia, one of the most respected benchmarks for genuine sustainability leadership. The award recognises companies that drive long-term, real-world impact across their operations, products, and industries. This honour reflects our commitment to certified sustainable practices, strong partnerships, measurable positive impact, and the continuous effort to make responsible choices accessible to everyone. Most importantly, it celebrates the collective effort of our community, partners, and every individual who believes in meaningful, lasting change. At the same time, we are proud to be listed among the Top 10 Sustainability Corporate Citizens in Sri Lanka for the sixth consecutive year; a recognition that reinforces our consistency, resilience, and authenticity in sustainability. This year, we were also acknowledged for our work in resilient business practices and customer relations, and our social responsibility arm, the MJF Charitable Foundation, received the Best Project Award for the Empower Culinary and Hospitality School — a programme that continues to shape futures by giving young people real opportunities to grow, learn, and lead. Proud of our Sri Lankan heritage and our journey as a global Sri Lankan brand, we are honoured to be recognised at this year’s Presidential Export Awards in Sri Lanka as well. Our achievements for the financial year 2024/25 include the Overall Award for Market Diversified Exporter of the Year, along with a Sectoral Merit Award in the Tea – Large Category. We are also proud to have received the Overall Award for Contribution to Sustainable Development in Exports, reflecting our continued commitment to responsible growth and deep commitment to biodiversity protection and a science-based pathway to net zero. Yet for us, these honours are not the destination.They are reminders of the values our founder instilled, that business must serve people, uplift communities, and protect the environment we all depend on. Our ongoing commitment to biodiversity conservation, community wellbeing, and our journey towards net zero by 2050 continues that legacy. To everyone who has walked beside us, thank you.Your belief in responsible business fuels our purpose. Learn more about how Dilmah is creating positive impact for people and the planet: Read here
Dilmah launches Grey2Green: An Urban Greening Project
Colombo is heating up! Over the past 20 years, rising concrete and shrinking greenery have pushed temperatures in the city’s built-up areas up by nearly 4°C. With this growing heat challenge, the message is clear: our city needs more green. That’s where Grey2Green steps in. Dilmah Conservation, together with the United Nations Global Compact Sri Lanka, launched Grey2Green; a fresh, citizen-led movement that invites everyone from university students to office teams, neighbourhood groups, and institutions to turn underused “grey” corners of the city into living, breathing green spaces. It’s more than just a tree-planting campaign. It’s a grassroots greening movement powered by people. Grey2Green encourages the public to transform rooftops, abandoned land, industrial plots, and neglected urban patches into pockets of biodiversity, focusing on, Urban forestry, Plant ecology, Landscape design, Ecosystem management. All to ensure that every green space created isn’t just beautiful — it’s ecologically meaningful and sustainable. Inspired by the One Earth Urban Arboretum One of the strongest inspirations behind this movement is the One Earth Urban Arboretum at our Moratuwa Centre — once an industrial waste site, now home to over 300 trees and shrubs. The transformation stands as a powerful reminder that even the most degraded spaces can be revived with science, care, and community effort. Grey2Green aims to replicate this model across Colombo and its suburbs, one restored space at a time. Event Highlights To spark conversation, the event began with an interactive Mentimeter quiz, inviting the audience to share their perceptions of urban greening. The responses helped set the tone, making it clear that people are ready, eager, and passionate about reimagining their city. Messages from the Experts The speakers shared insights that grounded the movement in both science and heart. Dr. Jagath Gunawardana, environmental lawyer, reminded us that green spaces are refuges for both wildlife and people. “If we stop seeing green, we will slowly lose our balance. Nature is not a luxury. It is a necessity.” Dr. Himesh Jayasinghe, plant taxonomist, highlighted the need for the right plants, the right planning, and strong community involvement. “Everyone wants green spaces, but we must also protect them. Leave only footprints.” Dr. Ajith Gunawardena from the Central Environmental Authority emphasized that urban greening is already a national priority, and young people and volunteers will play a crucial role in monitoring and stewardship. Treshan Galappathy of UNGC Sri Lanka connected Grey2Green to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) — reminding us that urban greening is a local action with global impact. Join the Movement Grey2Green is an invitation to co-create a Colombo where trees cool our streets, birds return to our skies, and communities thrive in healthier, happier spaces. Whether you’re a student, a neighbourhood group, an office, or simply someone who loves this city, you can be part of the change. Contact Dilmah Conservation to get involved:📞 011 4 822 490 / 216
Connecting Rainforests, Communities and Livelihoods
The newly launched documentary – Connecting Rainforests, Communities and livelihoods , shines a light on the remarkable journey of the Endane Biodiversity Corridor – a once-abandoned tea garden that has been transformed into a thriving 3 km-long biodiversity corridor, reconnecting two fragmented forests- Iharankanda and Walankanda. Started in 2018, the project focuses on restoring rare and threatened tree species, and has already led to the discovery of a new Memecylon plant species within the regenerated landscape. Beyond conservation, the initiative has brought meaningful change to the surrounding village and estate community, offering a model of forest restoration that the world can learn from. Created in collaboration with the Franklinia Foundation, Dilmah Tea, Kahawatte Plantations, and Rajarata University, the documentary captures this inspiring blend of nature, science, and community in action. It’s not just about planting trees. It’s about reconnecting ecosystems and empowering the people who live within them. A Story Told Through Real Voices The documentary captures the heart of this journey — from scientists mapping ecological needs, to local families caring for their surroundings, to the quiet beauty of an environment slowly returning to life. The documentary premiered at Genesis by Dilmah in Maligawatte, under the theme “Connecting Rainforest Communities and Livelihoods.” The evening brought together conservationists, academics, policymakers, private-sector leaders, and nature enthusiasts for an honest, warm conversation about the future of Sri Lanka’s forests — and the people who depend on them. Key speakers reminded us: “When forests connect, life thrives. When people connect with nature, sustainability begins.” Professor Ranasinghe highlighted the importance of biodiversity corridors as natural links that reconnect fragmented rainforests. These corridors help restore ecological balance, allow wildlife to move freely, and support the wellbeing of nearby communities. “It’s not just about planting trees. It’s about reconnecting lives; people, animals, and ecosystems,” she said, stressing that restoration must create real, lasting benefits for the local communities who protect these landscapes. She also commended ongoing community-led efforts, where degraded lands are being brought back to life and local residents are trained and empowered to steward their environment. “We are long on thought, short on time, and short on impact,” Dr. Dilhan C. Fernando reminded us, a powerful call to stop talking about change and start making it happen. He spoke about how deeply Sri Lanka’s natural beauty is woven into who we are and what we create. Without our forests, mountains, and people, even the things we cherish most from the charm of the Nine Arches Bridge to the flavour of Ceylon Tea, would lose their magic. He reminded us that real value isn’t just financial; it’s the life, culture, and nature that hold our world together. Nature is not optional, it’s essential And the documentary became the perfect closing note, showing what collaboration can achieve when science, community, and purpose come together. Looking Ahead The Endane Biodiversity Corridor is still growing, and so is the community around it. This documentary marks just one chapter in a much bigger story – a story of resilience, restoration, and hope.
Art for Conservation
Photography may often steal the spotlight in conservation storytelling, but art holds a quiet power of its own. This idea came to life at Art for Conservation: A Journey Through the Wild, an inspiring evening hosted at the Genesis – Dilmah Centre for a Sustainable Future. The session featured veteran wildlife artist Gamini Ratnavira, whose work spans over five decades and 55 countries. Through a captivating presentation and an engaging discussion, he shared how his brushstrokes have turned into a lifelong mission: using art to protect the natural world. Mr. Gamini’s paintings document more than beauty. It’s a way of reminding us of what we stand to lose, by capturing the stories of rare and endangered species – their fragility, their resilience, and the ecosystems they call home. Every piece becomes a window into the wild and a gentle invitation to care. Art, he believes, can be a bridge between awareness and emotion. When people see a painting, they don’t just observe an animal — they connect with it. They sense its delicate place in the ecosystem. They feel the urgency of protecting habitats that are disappearing far too quickly. The event drew a keen and thoughtful audience, all brought together by a shared belief: creativity becomes powerful when it serves a purpose. And in the world of conservation, art has the potential to transform understanding into empathy, and empathy into action. In the end, the evening was more than an appreciation of art; it was a reminder that conservation needs many voices. Whether through a lens or a paintbrush, every creative effort helps tell the story of our natural world — and why it is worth saving.