Author: Purnima Pilapitiya
The MJF Foundation’s Ongoing Impact on Cervical Cancer Screening in Sri Lanka
What does a cup of tea have to do with women’s health? In Sri Lanka, cervical cancer claims the lives of approximately 700 women every year. It is the second-highest cancer incidence among females in our nation — a statistic that is even more heartbreaking because it is a disease that is almost entirely preventable. This Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, we are reflecting on a journey of resilience and partnership. In late 2024, amidst acute economic and medical resource constraints, the MJF Charitable Foundation stepped in to sustain Sri Lanka’s national screening programme for cervical cancer. By donating 17,095 HPV DNA test kits (an investment of LKR 75 million), we ensured that the momentum toward eliminating this disease did not falter. According to recent statistics from Rotary Club of Colombo, 24,300 women were screened across the Western and North Western Provinces of which 1,900 tested HPV-positive and were immediately guided into life-saving care. True impact requires more than just resources; it requires a community. Last year, we hosted a knowledge sharing event alongside the Family Health Bureau, the Ministry of Health and Rotary Club of Colombo. By bringing together corporate leaders, medical professionals, and academic stakeholders, we opened a vital dialogue on how the private sector can support national healthcare goals. It was a testament to what we can achieve when we move from simple donation to strategic, collective action. Sri Lanka is already a global leader in HPV vaccination, exceeding 90% coverage. By focusing on the next pillar – early detection, the country is on track with its goal to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030. Every cup of Dilmah tea contributes to initiatives like this. We remain deeply committed to our Founder’s vision to #MakeTheWorldABetterTea – one where health and hope are accessible to every woman in Sri Lanka.
What is ‘Empower IT’?
In 2024, we started a free learning initiative designed to provide computer literacy to our factory associates. This January, we celebrated our first two graduating classes! This is much more than just a certificate; it’s an opportunity for our factory and production team members to expand their knowledge and skills and to open doors towards furthering their aspirations. Over the last 2 years, Empower IT too has grown, with recognition by the National Vocational Qualification System (NVQ) and the launch of the Advanced IT course. 19 of our production and factory team members are already leveling up to the advanced stage! Sri Lanka still has a lower national computer literacy rate of 38.4% (Source: Department of Census and Statistics, 2025). But we are committed towards Making the World A Better Tea, starting from our home at the Dilmah Tea headquarters. With initiatives like this, we are committed to ensuring that no one in our workforce is left behind.
Kindness Across Distances
Dilmah Partners Stand by Sri Lanka after Natural Disaster For the past eight years, the festive season has held a special tradition for Dilmah, marked by the annual visit of our dedicated partners from Japan – the Tokai Co-op – Consumers Cooperative and our distributor, Waltz & Co. This enduring relationship goes beyond business. Every year, the teams make the long trip to Sri Lanka to visit our Kahawatte Plantations in the hilly Nawalapitiya region. Their mission is simple yet heartwarming: to gift over 70 preschoolers from our tea garden families with brand new school bags and essential school supplies, ensuring they are well-equipped for the coming academic year. Kindness in the Face of Disaster The planned trip this December, marking the eighth consecutive year of their commitment, coincided with one of the most challenging periods Sri Lanka has faced recently followed Cyclone Ditwah. It devastated parts of Sri Lanka, especially the hill country, the very region where our plantations are located. Despite the severe disruptions, our friends from the Tokai Co-op and Waltz & Co. stood firm. They refused to cancel their travel plans, demonstrating a profound dedication that truly defines the spirit of partnership and compassion. What was intended as a gesture of back-to-school cheer quickly transformed into a vital lifeline for hundreds of families affected by the disaster. The promised gift of school bags and supplies for the children of the plantation became essential relief items, helping those who had lost everything to the floods and landslides. Lending a Hand Beyond the Estates While they were unable to visit the estates due to the severe weather and safety concerns, the Tokai Co-op and Waltz & Co. teams immediately pivoted their efforts. They spent their time at the MJF Foundation Centre in Moratuwa, rolling up their sleeves and lending a crucial hand to our relief operations. They assisted to pack rations and humanitarian aid to be urgently sent to the families most in need across the affected regions. This visit, during one of the country’s most challenging moments, underscored a powerful truth: the strongest friendships are those based on shared kindness and unwavering support. Their commitment to the communities that produce Dilmah tea, even when the path was difficult, is a beautiful testament to the humanitarian heart of our partnership.
From Community Hub to Emergency Lifelines
MJF Foundation Centre Moratuwa’s Humanitarian Support for Flood-Affected Communities Across Sri Lanka, our 10 MJF Foundation Centres are dynamic community spaces, but this past week, one Centre became a vital lifeline. Our landmark Moratuwa Centre demonstrated Dilmah’s ethical purpose beautifully. As flooding overwhelmed areas around Colombo, our incredible MJF Kids and Alumni, and dedicated staff sprang into action! Following the tragic impact of Cyclone Ditwah and subsequent flooding, our MJF Foundation Centre Moratuwa turned into a 24/7 relief kitchen. Working late into the nights and early mornings, they prepared and distributed over 2,000 hot meals, medical supplies, and essential goods to flood-affected communities, including their peers from the MJF Kids Programme in Peliyagoda. Seeing our youth spontaneously reach out to help their fellow MJF Kids is a powerful reminder of the deep-rooted community we are building. This is the legacy of #kindness and the vision of a better world our Founder envisioned.
Building Brighter Futures
At the heart of the MJF Foundation is a commitment to fostering stronger, more inclusive communities. We believe that true change happens when we work together — supporting health, nurturing leadership, promoting literacy, and empowering through sports. Here’s a glimpse of some recent activities that have brought our centres and the wider community together for impactful change. CCCPDD Joins Rotaract for Antenatal Awareness Our Centre Manager, Tharanga Samarasinghe, from the Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy and Other Developmental Disorders (CCCPDD), was recently invited by the Rotaract Club of College of Chemical Sciences – Institute of Chemistry Ceylon. She conducted a crucial awareness session for antenatal mothers in the Kolonnawa MOH (Ministry of Health) area, providing vital information to support healthy pregnancies and early childhood development. The CCCPDD also actively supports broader community health programmes, including the impactful Early Intervention Clinic launched in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. These partnerships ensure that specialised support reaches the community effectively. Cultivating Tomorrow’s Leaders: The MJF Kids Camp Nurturing the potential of our youth is key to creating a sustainable future. Our cross-centre camps are designed to build confidence, leadership skills, team building, and lifelong friendships. The MJF Kids Cross Centre Leadership Camp brought together young leaders from across our network at the MJF Foundation Centre in Moratuwa. 110 students from Pallansena, Peliyagoda, and Weligama joined the Moratuwa students for an energising day focused on friendship, teamwork, and leadership development. These experiences are invaluable in helping our children recognise their inner strengths and connect with peers. Enhancing Accessibility at the Community Library A significant addition was made to the MJF Centre Community Library with the inauguration of a dedicated Audiobook Section. Launched through a wonderful collaboration with Melantha Perera and the Bright Light Foundation, this facility has been specially designed to support individuals who are visually impaired. It offers them the invaluable opportunity to enjoy knowledge, stories, and the joy of reading through listening, championing inclusivity in literacy. Empowering Girls Through Sports: Volleyball Tournament Success Sports are a powerful medium for building confidence, discipline, and teamwork. Our recent tournament shone a spotlight on the talents of young girls in our surrounding community. To improve sports skills and promote opportunities for girls in sports, a thrilling Girls’ Volleyball Tournament was successfully conducted at our MJF Foundation Centre in Kalkudah. It was an unforgettable day of sportsmanship. A total of 54 girls from 6 nearby schools participated in the half-day knockout tournament, displaying exceptional sportsmanship and dedication. The event was filled with palpable energy, celebrated team unity, and enhanced sports opportunities for girls, creating a memorable and emotional occasion for all involved. The first and second-place winners were proudly honoured with winning cups, medals, and certificates.
Empowering Futures
ECHS Clinches Best Project Sustainability Award for National Impact 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.
A Recipe for Empowerment
Dilmah’s ECHS Graduates the Next Generation of Chefs The Empower Culinary & Hospitality School (ECHS), a joint initiative by Dilmah and the MJF Charitable Foundation, recently celebrated the graduation of 56 young culinary professionals. Decked in their chef whites, these new graduates are now taking their first steps into the hospitality industry. Bridging Standards and Values Established in 2016, ECHS was founded to be an inclusive, impact-driven culinary training facility. It provides professional training that combines practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and personal development for young people facing socioeconomic challenges. The school is accredited by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) and the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). To date, ECHS has produced 352 graduates from low-income and vulnerable communities across its two facilities in Moratuwa (ECHS West) and Kalkudah (ECHS East). The institution is also proudly inclusive, having graduated 8 youth with disabilities since its inception. Holistic Training for Industry Readiness ECHS offers a Certificate Course in Cooking and a shorter 3-month Pastry and Bakery Course. The curriculum is meticulously designed for industry readiness, ensuring graduates are holistic working professionals. The training extends well beyond kitchen skills: A Crucial Solution for Sri Lanka’s Workforce By cultivating skilled professionals, ECHS actively supports Sri Lanka’s domestic labour force. This is crucial amidst growing challenges, as statistics show a significant outflow of skilled Sri Lankans seeking employment abroad — nearly 78% of departures in the first quarter of 2025 were in the skilled category. The ECHS model proves its value with the recent graduation seeing almost 100% employability. The school creates a pathway to sustainable employment, skill diversification, and entrepreneurship by offering international-standard training. Its success is clearly reflected in its alumni, who include national and international award-winning chefs, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs. Notably, W. Dinesh from Kahawatte Plantations achieved national recognition by winning the Bocuse d’Or Sri Lanka (2017)!
MJF Foundation Contributes to National Health Policy
Progress Report! Our very own Subhani, MJFCF coordinator for Disability Advocacy & Sports and Maleesha, Speech & Language Therapist for the MJF Foundation Centre Moratuwa, joined a consultative meeting with the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, making active contributions to the National Strategic Plan for Healthcare Quality and Safety (2026-2030). It was a valuable opportunity to network with officials from government and private health institutions, broaden our collaborative reach, and educate participants on the impactful community work we lead! But that’s not all! These dynamic ladies were also invited by Ada Derana to share insights into disability and inclusive education and awareness.