In the serene coastal town of Pallansena, Negombo, a boy was born to two hardworking Ayurvedic doctors in 1930. Little did they know that their son, Merrill J. Fernando, would one day become the ‘World’s Most Experienced Teamaker’, serving flavourful brews made with the finest two leaves & a bud, handpicked, perfected and packed amidst the rolling hills of Ceylon.
Although the name Dilmah came into existence later, the story of Merrill J. Fernando and his passion for tea began in his early twenties when he began his career at AF Jones. When the British Colonial system was still prevailing, it was believed that Sri Lankans could not taste tea because they ate too much curry. Merrill J. Fernando proved this theory wrong when he was selected as one of the first ever Sri Lankan tea tasters to learn about tea in Mincing Lane, London.
He travelled to England with Joseph Travers & Sons in 1954 to learn more about the tea industry. After a year of hard work and dedication, he was appointed director of AF Jones in 1958. He went on to buy the company with his two partners when the owners decided to return to England. In the following years, his life was enriched by the arrival of his two sons, Malik and Dilhan, while the company he built, MJF Co Ltd, made its highest net profit for tea sold.
The road ahead looked bright, and Ceylon Tea Services Ltd was established in 1982.
In 1985, Merrill J. Fernando renamed his tea company to the now globally recognized brand name, Dilmah, in honour of his sons Dilhan and Malik. With unprecedented success in Sri Lanka, his vision was to share the unparalleled taste of Ceylon tea with the world. This led to the launch of Dilmah in Australia in the following years, accompanied by a legendary campaign featuring the iconic line “Do try it,” which helped cement Merrill J. Fernando and his Dilmah as a household name.
The rest, as they say, is history, still in the making, because the Dilmah story never stops brewing…
2nd Generation- Dilhan C Fernando and Malik J Fernando.
Stewarding the legacy of the World’s First Producer-Owned Tea brand are the 2nd Generation of Dilmah, sons Dilhan C. Fernando, and Malik J. Fernando, along with the 3rd Generation’s Amrit M. J. Fernando.
Dilhan, as Tea Grower & Dilmah CEO, has embarked on a journey to uphold the values of quality, authenticity and integrity instilled by our Founder. Despite the challenges of the times, with ever-evolving global trends, economic crises, global pandemics, he continues to steer Dilmah in the right direction, never compromising on quality and consistently respecting Nature’s Luxury, our Most Versatile Herb, the World’s Finest Single Origin Pure Ceylon Tea.
Malik, with a keen to elevate our Resplendent Isle of Ceylon, continues to support Dilhan with Dilmah whilst also crafting a luxury chain of Relais & Châteaux properties across Sri Lanka under his Resplendent Ceylon brand. Combining his passion for hospitality and tea, the luxury resorts 7 villas continue to create unforgettable experiences for guests while promoting Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and tea industry.
The 3rd Generation of Dilmah continues to share in the passion with which Founder Merrill J. Fernando created his brand. Amrit M.J. Fernando spends his days at the Home of Dilmah, immersing himself in the art of the Teamaker, partaking in the tasting of over 10,000 cuppas a week, in order to perfect his grandfather’s and father’s craft. He plays a strong role in the evolution of Dilmah through innovation and improving on sustainability, because making you a better tea means the world to us!
