The Story Behind Your Cup of Tea

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The Story BehindYour Cup of Tea 2013

Merrill J. FernandoSettlor, MJF Charitable Foundation

For centuries, problems of mankind have been solved over a cup of tea. Whether they were problems between nations, amongst businesses, even in families, between husbands and wives, tea has been the soothing balm that helped their solution. The simple act of pouring a cup of tea is, in itself, an ice-breaker, providing pleasurable anticipation of the goodness that is to follow. I have dedicated over 60 years of my life towards providing that cup: not only to solve problems but to add sunshine, to our day, with every sip of Dilmah.

Figures as at July 2013

Our health, education and infrastructure projects benefited 12,000 plantation families.

Together we brought a smile to 2,000 children, who were cared for at the Child Development Centres in our plantations.

The Foundation awarded educational scholarships to 245 students from the plantations.

Livelihood assistance was provided to 200 families including 100 war widows in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka.

Over 800 individuals were supported through the Small Entrepreneur Programme to establish themselves in a suitable livelihood.

It supported 1,000 kids through holistic development programmes conducted

via the MJF Kids Programmes islandwide.

Software training was given to 145 children and young adults from marginalised communities.

Over 150 differently abled children were provided with special education, therapy and training.

The MJF Charitable Foundation has changed the lives of over a 100,000 underprivileged people.

ContentsThe Story Behind Your Cup of Tea 5 Our Pledge 14 Supporting the Underprivileged & Marginalised

Communities 16 Human Service in the Tea Gardens 18 Small Entrepreneur Programme 26 Prison’s

Small Entrepreneur Programme - Reform & Integrate 30 Local Heroes - Changing Lives 34 Enabling the

Differently-abled 38 Women’s Empowerment 42 Empowering the North of Sri Lanka 46

MJF Kids Programme 50 Community Welfare 54 MJF Centre Moratuwa 58 Our Core Commitment

to Sustainability 66 Conserving nature, natural resources & cultural diversity 68 Mainstreaming

Sustainability 70 Environmental Education & Awareness 76 Culture & Indigenous Communities 82

Habitat & Species Conservation – Terrestrial 86 Habitat & Species Conservation – Marine 92 Ecosystems

Restoration 96 Beyond Profit: A Common Goal to make Business a Matter of Human Service 100

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The Story BehindYour Cup of TeaThere is an amazing story behind your cup of Dilmah Tea. It is a tale that unfolds each day on Dilmah Tea gardens around Sri Lanka. It begins with the blessing of nature upon Ceylon Tea – the natural alchemy of climate and soils that produces the world’s finest tea. It develops from there, weaving through the lives of the tea pickers and their families, through the village communities around our island, through the forests and waters around Sri Lanka, and reaching its climax in your cup of tea.

Dilmah was born of a simple tea grower’s vision. Merrill J. Fernando’s desire to share the pleasure in tea with the world, and to do so ethically by benefiting workers in the exploited tea industry, was the genesis of Dilmah Tea. Nearly four decades of struggle that Merrill invested in making his dream a reality, were rewarded with an unexpectedly powerful welcome from tea drinkers around the world.

Dilmah has grown from the impossible and often ridiculed dream of an ordinary Sri Lankan to a brand that is enjoyed in over 100 countries around the world. Dilmah is recognised as one of the top 10 tea brands in the world. These are not the definitions of success that Merrill J. Fernando and his family seek for Dilmah though.

Merrill fulfilled his pledge to making his Dilmah a genuinely ethical business with the establishment of his charitable foundation – the MJF Charitable Foundation. That commitment to ethics was set at the heart of Merrill’s business in the 1960s, long before Corporate Social Responsibility became the buzzword that it is today. Within that commitment lies a very powerful philosophy – that of making business a matter of human service.

In seeing success as something beyond its conventional, commercial definition, Merrill demonstrated a powerful truth. He showed how relevant the often discarded traditional, family values are in present context. By placing integrity – as much in relation to his customers, in the quality of Dilmah Tea as to the workers and environment that help make Dilmah special - at the heart of his business, he offered a potent solution to many of the problems our world faces today.

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Tea – the miracle of natureThe natural herb discovered 5,000 years ago has inspired Emperors and Poets, Commoners and Kings whilst offering comfort, invigoration, nourishment, inspiration and solace. More recently scientific research has emphasised the protective and healing properties in tea. This fusion of sensorial and functional benefits, makes tea in every sense, a miracle of nature.

After water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world. Appreciated equally for the pleasure it offers, for its health benefits and as a pure and natural drink, fine tea requires care in its preparation and presentation, to bring out its true personality. Real tea is about tradition and the traditional manner in which artisanal attention to detail goes into its making. Sadly, however, these traditions have long-since been abandoned by those with a keener eye for ledgers than for excellence, and the consequence is the emergence of tea that is no longer real; teas, which in essence, are cold. Defying this diabolical trend was the steadfast ambition of one man who had devoted his entire life to tea, the manifestation of which is ‘The Return to Real Tea’ and the only truly ethical big-name brand of tea today – Dilmah Tea.

The story behind your cup of Dilmah is not just one of triumph over adversity; it is also a triumph over injustice and unfair trade, and a resounding victory for farmers and producers in developing nations. It is also a shining example of truly ethical trade and a benchmark for making business a matter of human service. That, in essence, is the story of your cup of Dilmah, a story which was entirely scripted by its founder, Merrill J. Fernando – a man of extraordinary vision, strength and integrity.

Although Ceylon gained its independence from Britain in 1948, an economic form of colonialism prevailed in the Ceylon tea industry.

Tea, the natural herb discovered 5,000 years ago, has inspired Emperorsand Poets, Commoners & Kings alike.

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Merrill – the early yearsMerrill was born in 1930 in the small fishing town of Negombo, on the west coast of Ceylon, 25 miles north of the capital city, Colombo. One of five children to Harry and Lucih, the Fernando’s were a middle-class family whose existence in the impoverished area was humble and largely unremarkable. But it was an existence rich in old-world values and one that revolved around a small community sharing and caring for each other. It was to play a central and defining role in shaping the character of Merrill, and today, the lessons of his childhood resonate throughout all his business endeavours.

Merrill’s early years coincided with a tumultuous period for the world and his country of birth, Ceylon (which was renamed Sri Lanka in 1972). Ceylon had been under colonial rule since the 16th century with the Portuguese, Dutch, and finally the British governing the country in an unbroken spell. The British had ruled the country since 1796 and with the conclusion of WWII, Ceylon became an independent nation for the first time in over 400 years. When this momentous occasion took place on 4th February, 1948, Merrill was three months shy of his 18th birthday.

152 years of British rule left its considerable imprint on the island, no more so than the Ceylon tea plantation industry, which, by the turn of the 20th century, enjoyed the reputation as being the producer of the world’s finest tea. It was an industry that was almost entirely controlled by the British who, despite officially relinquishing governance of Ceylon in 1948, were intent on retaining their stranglehold on the lucrative Ceylon Tea industry. However, with the newly empowered locals applying considerable pressure on the British dominated system to include ‘Ceylonese’ in to the equation, Merrill was fortuitously selected to be trained as tea taster and was one of the first Ceylonese to be so. This included a stint in London which was then the ‘Mecca’ of the tea world, and which was to have a considerable bearing in influencing Merrill’s outlook on the industry.

‘The world is his oyster’ – Merrill aged 20.Merrill was one of the first ‘Ceylonese’ to be trained as a tea taster after‘Ceylon’ gained independence from the British in 1948.

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Exploitation and unfair trade Merrill looks back on his training and indeed, those who he trained under with gratitude and affection, but despite his relatively tender age, his stint in London opened his eyes to the inequitable and unfair system of trade that reigned.

What he saw were middlemen, who had little or no involvement in the producing of tea, reaping the bulk of the profits by controlling the marketing aspect of the industry. He simply could not get his head around the fact that the risk-takers and those that shed their blood, sweat and tears in producing tea, were the ones to least benefit for their substantial labours. It was a system that, understandably, worked well for the British Empire, but for a newly independent Ceylon, Merrill realised that it was imperative that branding and value addition had to stem from the source country if the industry was to survive. It was the country’s lifeblood upon which the livelihoods of thousands of workers were dependent and Merrill resolved himself to achieving this goal with enormous zeal and purpose of mind.

Much to his dismay and disbelief however, the greatest resistance to his concept of local branding stemmed from his own countrymen, who expounded the British viewpoint that Ceylon should remain a producer of raw material and not involve itself in value-addition. His was a lonely voice, but Merrill established himself within the industry at a trail-blazing pace where he rose, first as a company man, before going on to set up his own businesses. He was soon one of the most influential figures in the industry and gained a reputation for his fearlessness in the pursuit of his ideals. He realised that, as an independent entrepreneur he was at greater liberty to boldly express his views, while conversely, many of his objectors and dissenters were safeguarding their own lucrative jobs by doing the bidding of their foreign-owned employers.

Preserving the integrity of Ceylon Tea – Merrill ’s passion.

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Ceylon Tea – from the tea gardens to your cup.

The decimation of Ceylon TeaDespite Merrill’s vision and dream of marketing his own brand, he was unable to create change at the pace he wished for. The system was entrenched and formidable and his efforts were thwarted at every turn. It was during this period that Merrill’s worst fears had also started to unfold as his beloved Ceylon Tea was progressively forsaken by the big-name brands. It started with Ceylon Tea being blended with teas from other cheaper and inferior sources, with the Ceylon Tea component being systematically reduced; eventually reaching a stage where it was completely eliminated.

For over a century, ‘Ceylon’ has been to tea what France is to wine, and while the latter has certainly come under pressure from other impressive ‘new world’ wine producers, such as New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Australia, the integrity and reputation of good French wine has nevertheless remained impervious.

While similarly coming under pressure from newer producers, Ceylon Tea, conversely, has seen its integrity and reputation being laid to waste over the past few decades. This is purely on account of the marketing strategies adopted for tea which have steadily revolved and evolved almost entirely on the basis of profitability at the expense of quality; strategies that are simply unthinkable for ‘wine’, and which in an ideal world, should have been equally unthinkable for Ceylon tea.

What perhaps saved wine from going down the path of Ceylon Tea is that the principal growers were also its principal marketers – the French – people of a developed nation and one of the most influential in the world, who moreover, enjoyed the reputation of being the global governors for all matters of ‘good taste’. Unsurprisingly, the integrity of the terroir of wine was never going to be at risk.

What Merrill saw were middlemen, who had little or no involvement in the producing of tea, reaping the bulk of the profits by controlling the marketing aspect of the industry.

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As a consequence, consumers in their twenties and even thirties have developed tea taste profiles completely alien to what was once renowned as the finest tea in the world. But given the burgeoning research data on the health benefits of tea, there is no shortage of consumers who are increasingly on the lookout for healthier alternatives so as to maintain healthier lifestyles. However, they are often being deceived by brands who have taken advantage of the good name of tea and who, on the back of positive research data sell ‘speciality teas’ for $3, when the cost of production is $10. Needless to say, brands are hardly likely to incur a loss of $7 and unsurprisingly, closer inspection reveals that the actual contents bear little resemblance to the claims on the pack. These are some of the dishonest actions that big-name brands inflict on consumers which are detrimental to the industry and which incensed Merrill. But it spurred him to never lose sight of pursuing his goal of launching his very own homegrown brand of tea.

A lifetime devoted to tea…now a family passionDreams and dedication are a powerful combination and having persevered for nearly forty years, Merrill succeeded in launching his own Dilmah Tea in 1988. It was a milestone in the evolution of genuinely fair trade. Dilmah’s launch in Australia marked the first time that tea grown, handpicked and manufactured in Ceylon, was branded, packed and offered direct to consumers by the producer. There was no middleman and the revenue all came back to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to benefit the less developed nation and her ailing tea industry.

Acclaimed by consumers, ‘the finest tea on earth’ – the ethical, family tea brand offers more than ethics. Dilmah was conceived and guided by a Teamaker whose determination to make tea ethical was equalled only by his love for the healing and delicious herb. Selecting the finest in tea demands passion and commitment. Tea is a noble herb and unlocking its myriad qualities demands a master’s touch. Merrill devoted his life to tea and for nearly four decades he fought to bring integrity to tea. And when finally he succeeded, he named his brand after his sons to reflect his steadfast commitment.

Dilmah – coined from the names of Dilhan and Malik – embodies Quality, Tradition, Ethics, a commitment to pleasing the Customer,

The world’s most experienced Teamaker at work.The next generation - with sons Dilhan & Malik whose names Merrill used to coin the brand ‘Dilmah’.

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Sustainability and above all, Integrity. These are the Six Pillars on which Dilmah is established.

Merrill and his sons, Dilhan and Malik are joined by the third generation of ‘The Dilmah Family’ in their passion for tea. Together they reaffirm an unshakeable family commitment to the values that make Dilmah much more than just another tea.

Dilmah is a very special tea that honours quality, tradition and authenticity. Dilmah introduced the concept of Single Origin Tea. Single Origin offers tea drinkers the luxury of enjoying teas imbued with terroir, a blessing of nature. Celebrating the individuality of tea from different regions, and estates, Dilmah also offers Single Region and Single Estate Tea, rejecting as deceit the multi-origin blends preferred by its competitors for their substantially lower cost.

A family mission to share the joys in Real Tea led to innovations in tea that can only be described as paradigm shifts. Real High Tea, Thé Culinaire, the Chefs & the Teamaker, the Mixologists & the Teamaker and Tea in Five Senses are genuine innovations designed to share the pleasure in tea with a new generation. Contemporary style, and a 21st Century interpretation of tea but very much defined by the tradition, quality, authenticity, and commitment to ethics and sustainability that are the hallmarks of Dilmah.

A family commitment to tea.Merrill with sons & grandchildren.

Dilmah’s launch in Australia marked the first time that tea grown, handpicked and manufactured in Ceylon, was branded, packed and offered direct to consumers by the producer.

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A life devoted to real tea.

Tea – Real Tea – Artisanal, handmade… traditionalTea is a herb that is unlike any other; it is infinite in the variety of its taste, with flavour, strength, colour and aroma delicately linked to a miracle of nature. Like the beauty of terroir in wine, real tea has its own identity, the signature of the place in which it is grown. It is the delicious outcome of the confluence of climate, soil and the art of the teamaker. That indulgent variety is at the heart of indulgence in tea, for the herb that was considered 5,000 years ago a medicine, offers an array of richly satisfying taste experiences.

Dilmah is genuinely a product of passion and devotion; handcrafted and nurtured from the time the young tea plants first emerge from the soil in the tea nursery, through the moment when two leaves and a bud are carefully handpicked, and finally when Merrill, his sons and team of tasters taste every tea – that’s over 10,000 cups each week. A herb as complex as nature, can only be produced in an artisanal style.

Knowledge inspires passionKnowledge inspires passion and the objective of Dilmah is to share the story of tea to enhance the appreciation of real tea. Knowledge of tea; how it is grown, handpicked and traditionally produced, the expertise that goes into its manufacture, the influence of climate and the art of the teamaker – only magnify the pleasure in your cup of tea.

Inculcating a respect for this ancient and delicious herb through a deeper understanding of its nature and the joys, the ethics and the healthfulness in tea, means greater enjoyment of the richness, variety, flavour and antioxidants in tea, without compromising its taste, flavour or natural goodness.

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A commitment to humanity & sustainability.

Family values – Business as a matter of human serviceThe philosophy that drives every facet of the family brand is one of making business a matter of human service. That is a covenant that Merrill entered into with his consumers in the 1950s when he first set out to achieve his dream. Merrill’s pledge is fulfilled today by the MJF Charitable Foundation. Funded by the Dilmah Family and revenue from sales of Dilmah, the MJF Foundation designs, funds and implements over 100 projects each year. The Foundation has changed the lives of over 100,000 people each year through education, housing, welfare and empowerment programmes. Its schools offer education, scholarships and care to over 6,500 children and the Foundation’s Small Entrepreneur Programme has been hailed as an example of empowerment with dignity.

Dilmah Conservation extends the credo that business must go beyond commercial objectives. Formed with the involvement of IUCN – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Dilmah Conservation strives to ensure the sustainable interaction of man and his natural environment. Through its programmes in the areas of habitat and species conservation, ecosystem restoration, environmental education and protection of biodiversity and indigenous communities, a firm commitment to sustainability in every part of the Dilmah business is complemented by a substantial effort to protect the environment.

Merrill J. Fernando’s dream – once thought impossible – has come true. His ambition was never to be the biggest but to be the best; yet Dilmah is ranked amongst the world’s top ten international tea brands. Its greatest success is that Dilmah has given credibility to a definition of success that goes beyond commercial success. As Dilmah has grown, so has its positive humanitarian and environmental impact. For a business that is built on simple family values, that is more important than profit. It is the philosophy of making business a matter of human service.

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Our Pledge

Share the pleasure and natural goodness in Single Origin Tea, grown and made in the traditional way

and presented garden fresh, unblended.

Maintain our unwavering commitment to integrity, in relation to our customers and well wishers as well as to the community that makes it possible for us to produce

the world’s finest tea.

.... to make our business a matter of human service.

Merrill J. Fernando established his family tea company Dilmah, with the pledge of bringing integrity to tea.

Integrity requires that Dilmah offers Quality, Authentic and Garden Fresh Tea to its customers, to share the pleasure and natural goodness in tea. It also requires that Dilmah ensures that those who depend on Ceylon’s tea industry for their survival – the workers and their families – as well as the underprivileged amongst the wider community in Sri Lanka, benefit from the progress of Dilmah.

Merrill J. Fernando sought to fulfill his commitment by adopting a unique business model – one which was built on the philosophy that business is a matter of human service. At the heart of Dilmah therefore are six core values which Merrill crystallised into the Six Pillars of Dilmah. They are tradition, authenticity, quality, the consumer, integrity & sustainability. Dilmah dignified Ceylon Tea, honouring tradition with a commitment to tea that is made in the traditional, orthodox manner that was perfected over centuries. Merrill J. Fernando pioneered Single Origin Tea, celebrating terroir – the essence of authenticity in tea.

Mindful of his covenant with his customers, Merrill J. Fernando has always respected the consumer, writing personally to each of thousands of Dilmah Tea drinkers who write to the company and establishing the Dilmah School of Tea to share knowledge and thus pleasure in tea. His emphasis on quality is underlined by the respect for tradition – in tasting tea, in valuing taste, flavour, strength and freshness in tea. Integrity defines every activity of Dilmah and its ancillary businesses in relation to its customers and the community in which it operates.

The MJF Charitable Foundation was formed by Merrill J. Fernando to utilise revenue from sales of Dilmah Tea to benefit the underprivileged. The MJF Foundation designs, funds and manages over 100 projects each year, while positively changing the lives of over 100,000 people each year.

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Business as a matter of human service: Supporting the underprivileged & marginalised communities

The MJF Charitable Foundation (MJFCF) is an approved charity established by Merrill J. Fernando. The objective was to formalise activities that were close to the heart of the Founder of Dilmah, who had been helping people in need throughout his working career. In essence, having taken Dilmah to the world, the Founder was equally motivated to ensure that the benefits accrued from the success of Dilmah, also flowed through to the plantation industry and its work-force, as well as to the community at large and the environment. The Foundation was established as a conduit to ensure that these endeavours were carried out in a systematic and effective manner.

As it panned out, the timing of the setting up of the Foundation proved to be most fortuitous, as barely a year after its inception, Sri Lanka suffered its worst natural disaster in modern times – the devastating Asian tsunami which struck the island on 26th December, 2004. More than 30,000 people lost their lives in a matter of moments while wreaking havoc on the lives and livelihoods of many hundreds of thousands.

As a consequence, the Foundation evolved even more rapidly than anticipated and has developed in to a charitable organisation that is one-of-a-kind in Sri Lanka. For those that are familiar with the Founder, this is hardly surprising, as his vision, strength and commitment in bringing Dilmah to the forefront have been every bit as prevalent in relation to the Foundation.

While the tsunami created a situation which demanded considerable short-term attention, the focus of the Foundation predominantly revolves around long-term sustainability, by empowering individuals, families and whole communities to help themselves. The result has been the implementation of numerous projects and programmes that cover the length and breadth of the island, which are meaningful and innovative so as to allow beneficiaries to live self-sustaining and rewarding lives.

The Foundation serves to embody the Founder’s philosophy that ‘Business is a Matter of Human Service’. It is also a tribute and symbol of appreciation to the millions of Dilmah Tea consumers around the world who are stakeholders of the MJF Charitable Foundation.

www.mjffoundation.org

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Human Service in the Tea Gardens

The tea plantation workers have long been one of the most exploited workforces. They have for generations endured sub-standard living conditions and their wellbeing was an underpinning factor in the Founder’s crusade to market his very own home-grown brand of 100% pure Ceylon Tea. While exploitation of workers the world over has increasingly come under the microscope, the reality is that tea plantation workers are not exploited by mean-spirited employers, but by a system of trade by which Ceylon Tea has largely been bound for over a century. A system by which, the vast majority of profit generated from the fruits of their labour is made by overseas based organisations and brands, leaving producers in Sri Lanka struggling to make ends meet and unable to pay their workers a decent wage. Hard working communities deserve to be able to lead self-sustaining and dignified lives without an ignominious reliance on handouts from charitable organisations. Sadly, however, the consequences of entrenched neglect and exploitation spanning many decades cannot be remedied overnight, and redressing their issues requires considerable attention and assistance. Therefore, a sizeable focus of the Foundation revolves around the plantation industry and the upliftment of its workers.

Education is an area that is of particular concern to the Founder and on which he has placed a special emphasis. Plantation workers have been deprived of accessing higher education and the numbers that have gone on to receive University educations have been shamefully below the national average. Such a damning statistic demonstrates the endemic lack of opportunities and resources that have systematically impeded them from accessing higher education. In rectifying this anomaly, the Foundation set up a scholarship scheme and improved facilities in plantation schools. The first doctor from the plantations, Balakrishnan Satyaraj, the son of a tea picker on Somerset Estate and one of the early recipients of the scholarship scheme has now completed his medical studies at the Rajarata Medical Faculty. He is currently completing his final year practicals at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital where after he will commence his medical internship at a government run hospital. The success of the Dilmah brand, from plant to cup, is overwhelming testimony that there is no fairer trade than farmers marketing their own produce.


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Childcare developmentInfants and young children of plantation workers were often placed in poorly supervised and dilapidated crèches, or in the care of aged and infirm grandparents, not all who possess the wherewithal to shoulder such burdens in their twilight years. This often leads to inadequate care resulting from a lack of nutrition and poor general health. In addressing this issue, the Foundation has thus far restored 61 crèches cum Child Development Centres (CDCs) and constructed 14 new Centres which provide care and welfare for over 2,000 children of Dilmah tea garden workers daily. These Child Development Centres are equipped with facilities which enable sound development of young minds, while qualified and caring staff manage the daily operations. The staff members are often themselves part of the plantation. These Centres are fully-funded by the MJF Charitable Foundation.

Mid-day meal programme in CDCs The MJF Charitable Foundation ensures that every child attending any one of the Child Development Centres managed by the Foundation receives at least one balanced mid-day meal daily. Having commenced on an experimental basis 6 years ago, the mid-day meal programme proved to be an immense success due to it adding value to the children’s daily stay at the CDCs. Thus the programme has evolved today to include over 2,000 children attending 71 Child Development Centres situated in the Kahawatte Plantations and 19 Centres situated in Talawakelle Tea Estates. At the Centres, the safety and health levels of the children have significantly improved with the supervision of trained staff employed by the Foundation. This has enabled the parents to go about their work with a peace of mind that their children are being properly cared for.

School bags for plantation children Every year, children of Dilmah tea garden workers complete their early childhood education in Foundation run Child Development Centres and enter into government run schools in the area to commence their primary education. As a gesture of support, the Foundation provides these children with school bags and other necessary stationary items. In 2013, 800 youngsters who completed their education at these Centres received school bags, water bottle, lunch box, pencil box and books to embark on the next phase of their education.

I am relieved that the crèche takes care of our children. Like any parent, I want my children to be safe and have a good education. The Foundation is helping us achieve this.

Gnanamani | Tea picker, Somerset Estate

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1 Play time at a CDC2 Fostering Education in the plantations3 Healthcare facilities through medical

camps4 School bags for the new term

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Healthcare initiativesPlantations are self-sufficient communities with the day-to-day needs and services for the workers catered to within the confines of the plantation. However, insufficient resources have resulted in such services being of poor standard, including basic healthcare, which has adversely affected the general health of workers and their families. In improving the standard of health care, the Foundation has implemented a programme of continuous development to these health centres. This covers basic medical facilities such as ante-natal and post-natal maternal care, immunisation, health education, eye care and oral health.

In 2012, the Merrill J. Fernando Health Centre was established at the Somerset Estate in Talawakelle. The Centre serves a population of 3600 plantation workers and their families with health care services including emergency care, ECG services, hemoglobin and blood sugar level testing, natal care, family planning, health education for adolescents, youth and elders, an oral cancer and TB control programme and is equipped with an ambulance service to handle swift transfer of patients to Government Hospitals when required. Additionally an ECG machine was donated to the Westhall Estate Government Hospital in Nawalapitiya and has been providing much needed services to the communities in the area. The hospital located within the Kahawatte Plantation of the MJF Group serves a large number of patients from Westhall and Barcaple Estates and the surrounding villages.

Medical Camps The Foundation continued to provide targeted healthcare through medical camps orgnaised islandwide. In March 2013, the Foundation worked with Helpage Sri Lanka to carry out an eye clinic at the Imboolpitiya Estate of the Kahawatte Plantation Group which benefitted 261 former Dilmah tea garden workers. As a result of the eye clinic, 230 senior citizens received free eye glasses courtesy of the MJF Charitable Foundation, while 31 persons in need of cataract surgery have been referred for surgery at the Helpage Centre in Colombo.

In early January 2013, members of the Australia Sri Lanka Medical Assistance Team (AuSLMAT) screened and treated over one thousand estate staff and their families during a 2 ½ day medical camp held in the Kataboola Estate. The programme covered a range of activities, including a diabetes awareness and education programme, random blood sugar testing and treatment, eye care and oral hygiene programme for adults and children alike. A dedicated paediatrics clinic for treating children from the plantations was one of the highlights of this programme. Additionally, echocardiogram testing was carried out for selected patients with a history of heart ailments and during the eye clinic, nearly one hundred individuals, including children, received eye glasses. Overall, estate workers and their families in seven plantations of the Kahawatte Plantation Group benefitted from the medical camp.

The daytime meal at the day care centres managed by the MJF Charitable Foundation has significantly improved the nutritional status of these children.

Consultant paediatrician Dr. Sian Hughes | AuSLMAT (Australia Sri Lanka Medical Assistance Team)

1 Taking care of plantation communities 2 An improved CDC on Somerset Estate 3 Facilitating medical care 4 A nutritious mid-day meal at a CDC

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Gnanamani, tea picker, Somerset Estate in TalawakelleGnanamani is a tea picker on Dilmah’s Somerset Estate in Talawakelle, part of the beautiful tea country in central Sri Lanka. A mother of three children, Gnanamani is the sole breadwinner in the family and lives in a small, tidy estate house with pipe borne water and electricity, considered as luxuries in many estate dwellings in Sri Lanka. Her aged mother, a former tea picker herself, lives with them and contributes by cooking and taking care of the two older children when they return from school. The youngest, a little girl aged 4 attends one of the plantation Child Development Centres managed by the MJF Charitable Foundation at the Estate. Gnanamani’s day starts well before the sun rises, with her attending to her two older children to send them to school on time. Thereafter Gnanamani leaves home for work accompanied by her youngest, whom she drops off at the Estate CDC. Gnanamani is relieved that there is a Child Development Centre on the estate. ‘‘I am relieved that the crèche is there to take care of the children. Like any parent, I want my children to be safe and have a good education. The Foundation is helping us achieve this’’ she says.

Anuruddhika, budding lawyerAnuruddhika Vidhanapathirana is a now practicing lawyer having taken her oaths in December 2012. She was able to successfully complete her Bachelor of Law from the University of Colombo with assistance from the MJFCF Scholarship scheme of the MJF Charitable Foundation which supports secondary and tertiary education of children from Dilmah Plantations. Anuruddhika is not the only one in her family to receive a scholarship – her younger brother has now passed out of the Moratuwa University and is working as an electrical engineer while her sister is completing her second year at the Ruhuna Medical Faculty.

Anuruddhika joined the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board as an apprentice in 2012 and now functions as the Board Secretary cum Legal Officer. She has applied to the Attorney General’s Department for acting State Counsellors but feels that she doesn’t have enough work experience just yet to become one. She is determined to try again next year.

My education was made possible because the MJF Charitable Foundation provided me with a scholarship. I am a proud recipient and I intend to use this opportunity to better

myself and the community I live in. Anuruddhika Vidhanapathirana | MJFCF scholarship recipient & budding lawyer

1 Gnanamani, tea picker on Somerset Estate2 Anuruddhika, lawyer &MJFCF scholarship

recipient 3 Gnanamani & family in front of their

modest dwelling4 Dr. Balakrishnan Satyaraj, son of a tea

picker on Somerset Estate

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The success stories that emerged from the distribution of equipment following the December 2004 tsunami, to enable communities to resume their vocations, prompted the Foundation to develop its Poverty Alleviation Programme – a long-term, socio-economic relief effort. Central to this scheme is the Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP), through which deserving individuals are provided with necessary equipment and funding to launch a vocational-based business, or to improve their existing business. The tsunami marginalised many people, as in addition to the loss of life, there was also wide-spread loss of livelihoods, with many losing their homes, business premises and the tools of their trade.

SEP helped to re-establish these people in business by identifying those who had the capability, commitment and desire to better themselves and their families, by translating their commitment and dedication into a product or a service. SEP assists beneficiaries with a grant of up to Rs 50,000 per ‘entrepreneur’ in the form of equipment, but never cash. Thereafter, additional support is granted to those that demonstrate the ability to develop their business further. SEP also includes an apprenticeship programme whereby successful enterprises are monitored on a quarterly basis and required to take on trainees. These trainees, in turn, could qualify for SEP assistance themselves, who in turn take on apprentices in the course of developing their own businesses. The ripple effect therefore is increased sustainability which benefits the lives of more and more people within the community.

Since its initiation, over 800 people have transformed their lives and the lives of their families with support from the MJF Charitable Foundation. New entrepreneurs that have been helped by the scheme include, carpenters, builders, hairdressers, potters, mushroom farmers, beauty therapists, confectioners, textile manufacturers and even ayurvedic medical practitioners. To date, the programme has positively touched the lives of over 3,500 people. The SEP has been internationally acclaimed as one of the most effective self-help programmes since it focuses on building on an individual’s talents allowing them to live independent and productive lives.

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Small Entrepreneur Programme

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Small Entrepreneur Programme

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Thushara Madushanka – SEP recipient Thushara Madushanka is a young lad hailing from Siyambalanduwa in the Moneragala District, identified as one of the poorest areas in Sri Lanka. In 2009, he enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army after completing his secondary education to help support his parents and siblings. Misfortune struck a few months after he joined when he lost both his legs in a mortar attack, during the conflict that prevailed. His dreams of a better life were shattered and during the 1½ years he was confined to a wheelchair, Thushara attempted to end his life several times. He was at his lowest ebb, when the Sri Lanka Army stepped in and gave him a pair of artificial limbs and directed him to the MJF Charitable Foundation. The Foundation provided assistance to Thushara to purchase a custom modified 3-wheeler which enables him to drive despite his disability.

Today, Thushara is the proud father of a baby boy, a well respected member of the community and credits the Foundation for having given him a new lease in life.

Jayaratne – SEP recipientJayaratne and his wife Ramyalatha are both visually impaired. Yet, they have not allowed this to stop them from leading a fruitful life despite their difficult circumstances. Ramyalatha is a university graduate and teaches at the school for the Visual & Hearing Impaired in Moneragala, in the East of Sri Lanka. However, with the birth of their daughter, Ramyalatha and Jayaratne found it difficult to manage on Ramayalatha’s income alone. Thus, Jayaratne started selling peanuts, sweets and other such items in buses and on the road in order to supplement his family income. The MJF Charitable Foundation helped Jayaratne by providing him a weighing scale and a sealing machine so that he could packet his products and sell them. Now Jayaratne is able to contribute to his family’s income and hopes to improve his earnings in order to secure a better future for his daughter who is a healthy, young child with the gift of sight.

Lena & Sankar Jeganathan – SEP recipientLena Jeganathan is a woman who has had to face many adversities in life. After her husband’s demise, she set up a welding shop at her home, in Batticaloa in the East of Sri Lanka where she undertook small welding and other iron related works to support her family. Thereafter, her son Sankar took over the operation from his mother and ran the shop in a small area of their house. Their income was very little, and it was their only livelihood. The 2004 Tsunami swept away what little they had and took away their only means of living leaving them in extreme despair.

Recognising their need for empowerment, the MJF Charitable Foundation stepped in and provided tools and equipment to help rebuild their workshop. Now Sankar, along with his family, is running the workshop which is a great success. They make gates and other iron works where Sankar is utilising the training he received in the Middle East. Their income has increased considerably and they are able to lead a better life for themselves and their children.

The Foundation saved me by giving me this chance – I no longer think of ending my life. Thushara Madhushanka | SEP recipient, Monaragala

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1 SEP recipient Thushara & family 2 SEP recipient Jayaratne with wife

Ramyalatha3 SEP recipient Lena at her welding workshop4 A better future for Jayaratne’s daughter

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The Prison Reform & Integrate Programme, part of the SEP, focuses on transforming individuals released on parole from the correctional system to lead productive lives by re-building their reputation within the community and instilling confidence in them to carry on with their lives. Launched in October 2007, the Reform & Integrate Programme is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka.

As in many countries, once imprisoned, individuals, even if rehabilitated and motivated to mend their ways, face an uphill task to re-establish themselves within the community as regular citizens, due to a lack of adequate re-integration systems in place. Many employers shun people who have been convicted and are unwilling to take risks. The consequence therefore is that many of these prisoners are unable to sustain themselves once released which increases their chances of resorting to crime once again.

It is a vicious cycle which undoubtedly contributes to the high recidivism rate of nearly 50 percent and the Prisons SEP was established with the objective of attempting to break this cycle and give these individuals a second chance at life. Prisoners are carefully selected for the programme and must have a good rehabilitation record during their period of incarceration. Those selected must also have undergone vocational training within the correctional system or as in SEP those that have prior experience in a vocation are supplied with the tools of their trade so that they can establish a means of earning an honest livelihood.

Since its inception in 2007, over 240 former prisoners have benefitted from the programme which has been hailed as a success in combating recidivism. The MJF Charitable Foundation works closely with the Prisons Department to ensure that the Reform & Integrate Programme objectives are fully realised and that every prisoner who wishes to be rehabilitated will be supported to establish themselves in a suitable livelihood with support from the Foundation.

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Prison’s Small Entrepreneur Programme Reform & Integrate

Reform & Integrate

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The story of Samantha – SEP recipient, village tailor & community leader Samantha Rajapakshe from Pahalalanda in Monaragala, is a former Army soldier. He deserted the force for a life of crime, and was incarcerated for a few years due to these misdeeds. When he was released from prison he was ostracised by society and viewed by many as a threat. There were very few opportunities available to embark on a new life. His life changed for the better when he was chosen as a recipient of the Reform and Integrate initiative of Dilmah’s Small Entrepreneur Programme. Supported by the Foundation with a sewing machine and an overlock machine, Samantha embarked on changing his life and his destiny. He became the village tailor – a hardworking man who received his first opportunity when the Civil Defense Forces unit in the area asked him to alter a large consignment of uniforms in a short period of time. Undaunted by the task, Samantha set out to work, morning and night to deliver on his promise.

Today Samantha is not just the village tailor – he is a well-respected community leader who, together with the MJF Charitable Foundation, has established an irrigation scheme and an orange and pineapple plantation in Pahalalanda to provide livelihood opportunities to over 50 families in the area. Before the MJF Charitable Foundation intervened, the villagers of Pahalalanda often ended up having to walk miles to get potable water for their day-to-day activities during times of drought. Growing was limited to what they could manage in their home gardens with the limited water resources they had. The Foundation facilitated the much needed irrigation scheme with the establishment of the water tank in Pahalalanda.

The Gami Aruna – or ‘village awakening’ project has already borne fruit with the first harvesting of pineapple being carried out in 2012. Samantha has not only enabled himself with support from the Foundation, but he has also managed to enable others in his community. He is now happily married to a girl from his village and is the father of a baby girl. He is a true example of ‘Changing Lives’.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Welikada Prison Headquarters where the latest group of paroled prisoners were presented with SEP grants in March 2013, Samantha says ‘‘I am a better person in every sense today because I made use of an opportunity given to me by the MJF Charitable Foundation. I am an example of how good things can happen to people like us’’.

I am a better person in every sense today because I made use of an opportunity given to me by the Foundation. I am an example of how good things can happen to people like us.

Samantha Rajapakshe | SEP recipient & community leader

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1 Samantha, a man on a mission 2 Irrigation scheme for Pahalalanda3 The orangery at Pahalalanda 4 Sharing the benefits of empowerment

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The Local Heroes programme of the MJF Charitable Foundation evolved from the Small Entrepreneur Progamme (SEP) and takes the concept a step further and on a larger scale so as to empower impoverished communities. The central theme of the model is to improve the standard of a capable individual and use this success to benefit the wider community.

Our first Local Hero was D. M. Dharmadasa, a hard-working, committed papadam manufacturer living in Monaragala, one of Sri Lanka’s least developed administrative districts. With help from the MJF Charitable Foundation, Dharmadasa was able to launch his own brand of papadam, upgrade his workplace and factory premises and employs ten people to help with his business.

In this issue of the Local Heroes we follow the inspiring story of Sumith Udayakumara, a promising entrepreneur who has transformed himself and the lives of many others through his involvement with the Small Entrepreneur Progamme (SEP) of the MJF Charitable Foundation. Sumith is the owner of his own brand of yogurt, several side products and provides direct and indirect employment opportunities to nearly 95 people.

This is why he is a Local Hero…

Local Heroes – Changing Lives

Local Heroes – Changing Lives

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The story of Sumith Udayakumara – SEP recipient & Local Hero In 1997, Sumith Udayakumara started making yogurt in his kitchen. He was a 34-year old small time entrepreneur from a rural village in the Monaragala District, identified as one of the least developed districts in that day. His output during those first months was ten cups of yogurt made using a litre of milk. Equipped with nothing but determination and a strong belief in himself, this father of two young boys, struggled to compete with well-known brands that had majority market share while also maintaining the quality of his products.

By early 2000, Sumith began to employ two young men from the area to support his work and was by this time using nearly 30-35 litres of milk a day to make yogurt. However the business was facing practical difficulties. This included storage and transport issues and the constant threat of returning stock. His luck turned for the better when he was shortlisted for support through the Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP) of the MJF Charitable Foundation, which supports promising small-time entrepreneurs to develop their own businesses. Fifteen years after he had poured his first ten cups of yogurt which he sold in the village shop, Sumith is now the proud owner of his own brand of yogurt and his enterprise includes making milk toffees, savoury bites, ice lollypops and ghee oil - a by product of the milk. He produces over 750 cups of yogurt and around 800 pieces of milk toffee daily.

Sumith is now an enterprising employer with 13 people working under him, including 3 widows, who had lost their husbands in the now concluded war. His own brand - Sumadu Products - is well known in Monaragala for its quality. His requirement for milk, which he purchases at a higher rate, provides cottage industry possibilities to over 80 individuals.

In view of Sumith’s hard work and his evident capacity to carry out his business successfully, the MJF Charitable Foundation through Dilmah Engineering conceptualised and developed a machine to boil and cool the milk in order for him to carry out the yogurt manufacturing process efficiently and sustainably. The custom built boiler, has drastically reduced the use of firewood. The cooler unit enables the maintaining of temperature of the boiled milk, a necessity when the mixture is poured into cups.

His mantra is simple. Develop the business, don’t substitute quality for quantity and help the people who need help. Sumith says “I received support from the MJF Charitable Foundation because the Chairman of Dilmah shared his wealth with those who are less privileged like me. I want to honour him by helping my staff ”.

I received support from the MJF Foundation because the Chairman of Dilmah shared his wealth with less privileged people like me. I want to honour him by helping my staff.

Sumith Udayakumara | SEP recipient & Local Hero

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1 A recipient busy at work 2 At Sumith’s workshop3 With his mentor, the Settlor of the MJF

Charitable Foundation4 Fruits of Sumith’s labour

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The ability for differently abled individuals to lead normal lives was almost unheard of a few decades ago in many parts of the world. This had more to do with a lack of vision and foresight amongst policy makers who saw them as a social burden rather than as an opportunity to develop a better welfare policy aimed at uplifting and enabling the differently abled. This led to individuals with disabilities often becoming marginalised and their prospects for employment were non-existent.

In a bid to counter this discrimination, the MJF Charitable Foundation has implemented wide-ranging programmes to provide better care for these individuals as well as assist them to become productive citizens. The Foundation initially began providing assistance to the Ratmalana School for the Hearing & Visual Impaired, on the outskirts of Colombo and then moved on to sponsoring similar schools in more remote areas where funding is scarce.

Amongst the work carried out by the MJF Charitable Foundation in relation to empowering the differently able include mentoring the Subhagya Vidyalaya - the School for the Hearing & Visual Impaired in Monaragala, located in one of the least developed areas in the country. Decades of poverty and lack of infra-structure development has only exacerbated the plight of differently abled individuals who have been marginalised due to a lack of programmes in the District to address their special needs.

With support from the Foundation, the Subhagya Vidyalaya is now able to provide educational and vocational training for differently abled youth in the Monaragala District.

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Enabling the Differently-abled

Enabling the Differently-abled

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For a future with hopeThe Moneragala Subhagya Vidyalaya - School for the Hearing & Visual Impaired is one of the schools taken under the wing of the Foundation, and the success of its vocational institute embodies the philosophy of the Foundation, which is to create sustainable livelihoods as opposed to fostering dependency, a common feature of most charitable initiatives. As a result the Foundation provided financial support to the institute to help it expand and improve its programmes in woodwork and sewing. These programmes were so successful that it prompted the Foundation to fund the building of a showroom ‘Daskam Nivasa’, or Home of Talent, where students earn an income through the sale of their works. The Daskam Nivasa produces high quality schools bags and conference bags and in 2012, the students at the School produced the satchels that were presented to Dilmah Global Partners attending the Global Partner Conference. Furthermore, school bags distributed amongst children attending Child Development Centres in Dilmah tea gardens are also produced here.

Enabling the Ex-abledThe conflict which lasted for nearly three decades resulted in large numbers, over and above what could be constituted as the average, of people who lost one or more limbs. Many of these were caused by the insidious presence of land mines which precipitated a large demand for prosthetic limbs. The AIDEX (Aid to the Ex-Abled) Annual Sports Festival, now in its 17th year, has been sponsored by Dilmah from its inception to help individuals with disability realise their potential and to encourage them to live non-dependent lives with dignity. This event brings together over 350 participants from across the island, including from the poorest regions of the country. In addition to the sponsorship, Dilmah also makes special grants to select individuals so as to empower them to become more productive citizens of the community.

Seeing the world through his eyes In March 2013, Twenty seven year old Damith Thushara was awarded a scholarship by the Founder of Dilmah to continue his Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, one Sri Lanka’s top universities. Having lost his vision at the tender age of 6 due to being administered a wrong medication at the government run hospital in Monaragala, one of the least developed areas in country, Damith has spent a better part of the last twenty years courageously fighting to overcome this severe handicap and to move ahead in life.

Today, Damith is a teacher at the Moneragala Subhagya Vidyalaya - School for the Hearing & Visual Impaired and is using his handicap as a tool to encourage not only the differently able but also the able towards living their lives successfully and meeting goals.

The Foundation has given me everything – a scholarship and now an opportunity to help others like me. I am forever grateful.

Damith Thushara | Teacher at the Subhagya Vidyalaya - School for the Hearing & Visual Impaired, Monaragala

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1 Student at the School for the Hearing & Visual Impaired

2 Ex-enabled shine at AIDEX 20123 Cricket stars from Subhagya Vidyalaya4 Damith Thushara, aspiring educationist

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Working towards providing opportunities for women to better themselves and their families is part of the important work carried out by the MJF Charitable Foundation. The primary aim of this programme is to give women from marginalised communities and those who have children with disabilities a chance to embark on a livelihood on their own and to avoid the vicious cycle of poverty and disability.

The alleviation from poverty through empowerment of women is a matter close to the heart of the Founder and is an area in which the Foundation has endeavoured to make a difference. Hence the Foundation has included a programme of work dedicated to empowering women from underprivileged communities, who now have a chance to progress ahead in life with support from the Foundation.

An extensive project in Moratuwa, a highly populous city on the outskirts of Colombo with a large concentration of urban slums, caters to women from the vicinity who have little or no access to the basic amenities in life. These women are often illiterate and their plight is further exacerbated by the additional burden of children with various disabilities.

Therefore the Women’s Empowerment programme endeavours to improve the quality of life and prospects of livelihood for women from around the Moratuwa area. The current programme in Moratuwa will be used as the basis for establishing future women’s empowerment programmes in MJF Centres across the country.

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Women’s empowerment

Women’s empowerment

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Empowerment through skills development Our women’s programme at the MJF Centre Moratuwa revolves around the mothers of children attending the Rainbow Centre for children with special needs. At the Centre, they are trained in sewing, cooking and gardening not only as a skill development but also as an activity that allows them to escape the trials of their day to day lives. Already, these ladies have benefitted from the threadwork and ribbon embroidery classes. In the future the Foundation envisages supporting women who show potential, through the SEP – Small Entrepreneur Programme and take them to an entrepreneurial level in their chosen livelihood.

The Foundation encourages moderated informal group discussions which gives these women a forum to speak up and discuss their issues. These discussions are managed by qualified staff who not only lend a sympathetic ear to their grievances but also carry out timely discussions on topics as personal hygiene, home management and home finance management. Through the skills development classes, our general aim is to provide the knowledge - formal and informal - that they need to live comfortably and respond to situations they will likely face.

We are fortunate to be able to bring our children to the Rainbow Centre for therapy and benefit from the programmes that the Foundation has organised for us.

Ajantha | mother of child attending Rainbow Centre for children with special needs

1 Sewing classes in progress2 Home gardening at the Agriculture Centre 3 Livelihood opportunities for women 4 Experiencing nature

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Empowering the North of Sri Lanka

The MJF Charitable Foundation commenced key projects in the Northern peninsula in an effort to empower this region which has suffered adverse socio-economic conditions due to the 30-year conflict that prevailed. In 2011, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day, 100 war affected women in Point Pedro in the North were awarded livelihood support to enable them commence a livelihood of their choosing. In 2012, the programme was replicated in the Eastern Province in Batticaloa, with the awarding of grants for war affected women. This is the second phase of the project which commenced in 2011 to empower the women of the Northern peninsula who are mostly war widows, through the MJF Foundation Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP).

The support extended is in line with the Foundation’s globally acclaimed SEP which seeks to empower individuals in a sustainable and dignified manner. The support consisted of assistance for processing dry fish, goat rearing and dress making, which are cottage industries that these women, who are heading single parent households, can engage in. To date 187 war affected women have been supported in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka.

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Thambithurai PuwaneswaryThambithurai Puwaneswary of Kommanthurai, Batticaloa, in the Eastern Province was only 35 years old when she lost her husband in the war. Her daughter was just 2 years old then. This was over six years ago. While physically scarred by the bullets that nearly took her life, she was also mentally drained having undergone hardship and deprivation that follows a long protracted war. To feed herself and her little girl, Puwaneswary sold ground nuts and vegetables, which allowed them to eke out a living. Although a good seamstress, she could not afford a sewing machine due her status as an unemployed widow, which did not qualify her for a loan to purchase necessary equipment. Alone, she longed to give her child a decent life and a good education. This dream was realised when she became a recipient of the Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP) of the MJF Charitable Foundation which provides livelihood assistance to war affected women in the North and East. Puwaneswary was a recipient of the first phase of the SEP in the Eastern Province. The Foundation having recognised her skills as a dressmaker gifted her a motorised sewing machine in December 2012.

Puwaneswary is confident that she will now be able to earn extra money and give her daughter the best of education possible. “The Foundation has given me and my daughter a chance to live again. I look forward to her growing up now with pride” she says with a beaming smile.

Rajanikanth ShaliniAt 24 years, Rajanikanth Shalini from Batticaloa is the youngest beneficiary of the first phase of the Small Entrepreneur Programme which provides livelihood assistance to war affected women in the North and East. She was widowed in 2009 when her daughter was just two years old. Despite her poverty, at the end of the war Shalini persevered and attended an advanced tailoring course and qualified herself as a dressmaker. She currently works in a local tailoring shop. The MJF Charitable Foundation gifted her a Zig Zag sewing machine to help her embark on a dressmaking business on her own.

Despite the loss of her spouse and the subsequent hardships she faced, Shalini is determined to provide a better life for her only child. This determination enabled her to become a recipient of the SEP and she says “I can start my own dress making venture at home. When you visit next time, you will see the difference”.

The Foundation has given me and my daughter a chance to live again. I look forward to her growing up now with pride.

Thambithurai Puwaneswary | sEP recipient from Batticaloa

1 One of the many faces of empowerment in the North

2 Puwaneswary with her sewing machine 3 SEP recipient Shalini4 Empowerment through self help

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The MJF Kids programme was first established in 2006 as a part of Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando’s commitment to sharing the success of his Dilmah brand with the underprivileged. It is free for children from underprivileged families, especially from the vicinity of the MJF Group, where some of the most impoverished urban dwellings in the country’s capital, Colombo are located. The majority of the people in these ‘slums’ are uneducated, which is a trend that tends to repeat itself from one generation to the next as products of their environment. Sadly, therefore, the children miss out on an education as their parents often keep them at home to care for other children or to help with work.

In an endeavour to break this vicious cycle of entrenched poverty in the nearby slums, the Foundation set up the MJF Kids Programme. Today, more than 1000 children form the MJF Kids and are exposed to a life of possibility. The ‘MJF Kids’ are the pride and joy of the Founder and following its success in Peliyagoda and Maligawatta, the Programme has now been replicated in the Founder’s hometown of Pallansena, a little fishing hamlet in Negombo, in Siyambalanduwa in the Monaragala Districts – one of the least developed areas in country, in Moratuwa where a comprehensive programme of support for children from marginalised communities are carried out and in Point Pedro in the Northern Province to help children marginalised as a result of the now concluded war. These children gather at MJF Centres island wide and are guided by teachers in arts, crafts, cookery, sewing and IT, and are assisted in their school curriculum. The objective of the programme is to provide these children with education, life-skills training, and a general exposure to progressive alternatives outside of their own limited and often dreadful life-experiences. As a consequence, they will be equipped to step outside of their existing environs and establish a better quality of life for themselves and their families, one day.

With the Dilmah office forming the backdrop as the base and home of the MJF Kids, the response by the kids to the many opportunities that have come their way has been overwhelmingly positive. What is taken for granted by many children was a new and enlightening experience for the MJF Kids; from basic hygiene, to painting a picture with water colours; from learning to filter water, to using a keyboard and mouse.

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MJF Kids programme

MJF Kids programme

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Prasanga Prasansa programmePrasanga Prasansa is the year-end entertainment programme and awards ceremony held annually since 2006 for the MJF Kids. The event is coordinated and entirely produced by the Kids and includes their very own master of ceremonies with compering done in all three official languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English. The two-hour programme consists of dance recitals, songs, speeches, skits and a nativity play, which demonstrates the talents of these children. In 2012, Prasanga Prasansa became a celebration with a difference with children from very poor urban slum communities and those with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism working together to present an evening of music and drama to celebrate the spirit of Christmas. MJF Kids from facilities in Peliyagoda, Maligawatte and Moratuwa showcased their achievements and received prizes for their performance during the year. The event titled ‘Celebrating Differences’ was an immense success.

MJF Kids participate in UNDP Twinning Schools ProgrammeTwelve kids from the MJF Kids Programme in Peliyagoda, joined 210 students, 50 parents and teachers representing 21 schools in the Northern, Eastern, North-Central and Southern Provinces, to participate in the finale of the Twinning Schools Programme (TSP) conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under their Transition Recovery Programme (TRP). The five-day programme was held at the Uva Wellassa University in Badulla and brought together children and adults, providing a platform to showcase their talents, and further opportunities for learning and skills development and most importantly, offering them an opportunity to strengthen ties with one another. The students, aged between 14 - 16 years, were exposed to a range of activities geared to build camaraderie and fellowship, with the aim of improving interaction, understanding and co-existence among and within socio-culturally diverse communities.

Celebrating the Festival of Light Children from the Peliyagoda and Maligawatta MJF Kids Programme celebrated Vesak with a lantern festival held at the MJF School in Peliyagoda. The competition is held annually to celebrate the festival of light, during which the MJF Kids work together and create lanterns that are both creative and are made using ecofriendly material that are sourced from the Dilmah productioin facility. Vesak is the most important Buddhist festival celebrated around the world and commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. It is celebrated when the full moon appears during the month of May and is declared as an international holiday by the United Nations. Currently there are 120 children and youth in the MJF Kids Programmes in Peliyagoda and Maligawatta. They were separated into eight different groups for the competition, and the Edithara (Brave) Group from the Peliyagoda MJF Kids Programme was adjudged winners while Manel and Soorya groups were adjudged second and third respectively.

I did not study before and I felt I was a failure. Support classes at the MJF Centre have significantly improved my grades at school. I am no longer treated as a failure.

A. Esther | MJF Kid, Pallansena

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1 Showmanship at the Prasanga Prasansa 2 MJF Kids in Point Pedro, Northern Province3 Participating at UNDP – TSP – a unique

opportunity4 Unity in diversity – celebrating the festival

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In the aftermath of the now concluded war, some areas in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka remained secluded from the public eye and from the development that was taking place at a rapid pace. Whilst, main cities and adjacent towns were renovated, infra-structure developed and roadways widened and tarred, some areas remained hardly touched by this wave of development. Many communities in far out places remained scarred by war and marginalised due to their remoteness. This was one of the areas that the MJF Charitable Foundation has been addressing since the end of the war.

Whilst providing welfare and care for marginalised communities living in and around Colombo and in the Dilmah tea gardens remain as priorities, the welfare of those needing help in the North and East is also considered as important. These people face significant hardships, much of which revolve around health, nutrition and livelihood issues. Children and the aged are particularly vulnerable and the extent of the overall difficulties that these communities face is quite extensive.

In recognising these problems, the Foundation has implemented a number of projects with the aim of improving the lives of these communities. This includes free health camps with the aid of volunteer doctors in the plantations, distribution of uniforms and footwear for marginalised children in the Eastern Province to the extension of the Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP) to the Eastern Province.

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Community Welfare

Community Welfare

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Thoppigala – working to build bridges of peace to connect all communities Dilmah commenced work in the Thoppigala area, in Eastern Sri Lanka in December 2011 as part of the efforts of the MJF Charitable Foundation’s community outreach programme. This programme included working with school children from 17 schools in the area and providing them with much needed school uniforms and footwear as part of celebrating the spirit of Christmas in an area that had been untouched by post war development initiatives. The programme continued in 2012 with the donation of publications for school libraries and the continuation of the donation of uniforms. In April 2013, a new phase of development in Thoppigala began with the establishment of the Thoppigala Heritage Park, which will enable outsiders to experience the untamed east first-hand. The programme to support community development in Thoppigala is continuing.

Support to the National Cancer InstituteThe National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Maharagama, is the country’s only facility dedicated to the treatment of cancer patients. As a consequence, the demands on its resources are extensive and patients requiring tests and treatment are often placed on a waiting list. In order to address this situation, the Foundation donated a mammography machine, the required films and envelopes, and an ultra-sound scanner to the NCI, enabling them to continue with the breast cancer screening programme. The Foundation continues to support the NCI and in 2012 a further 4000 mammography films were donated. In a special arrangement with the NCI, a screening programme is carried out for women from Dilmah plantations every Friday and approximately 160 – 200 plantation sector women benefitted through this programme.

Sadhasarana – home for the elderlyIn addressing the issue of homeless elderly people with no family for support and no shelter, the Foundation established the Sadhasarana Home for Elders in Negombo, especially to care for destitute women. The project included the purchase and transformation of a former family property of the Founder. With the inclusion of an extension to the existing building the Foundation is now able to provide resident facilities to over 25 senior citizens who will now be able to spend the remainder of their lives knowing that their welfare is being taken care of.

The autoclave machine donated to the hospital by the MJF Charitable Foundation will help reduce the incidents of post surgery infection rates remarkably.

Prof. Ranil Fernando | Consultant Surgeon, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama

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1 Nursing staff with Autoclave machine donated to Ragama Hospital

2 Community welfare in Thoppigala 3 Support to the NCI4 Sadhsarana - a haven for senior citizens

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The MJF Centre Moratuwa was established in 2011 to support Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando’s vision of sharing the success of his Dilmah brand with the less fortunate and the poor. The Centre is located on a sprawling urban estate in Moratuwa, a populous city in the Colombo District, where a large population lives under deplorable conditions in cramped urban slums. These slum dwellers are often burdened by not just poverty but also by various illnesses, some of which are incurable.

The MJF Centre houses the MJF Kids Programme, the Rainbow Centre for children with disabilities, a centre for women to seek support and solace, the Curtiss Centre for Design and the Dilmah Conservation Sustainable Agriculture Research Centre. This is the first amongst a series of MJF Centres to be located across the country providing welfare for poor and underprivileged people, empowerment for youth through vocational training, hope for children from marginalised backgrounds lacking support for their education, a haven for children with special needs and a place for women to seek empowerment in order to support their families live better lives. It is also a place where sustainable agriculture is practiced without the use of pesticides and other synthetic crop enhancers. A butterfly garden is the latest addition to the MJF Centre Moratuwa to encourage children, youth and adults alike to appreciate nature and live in harmony with all beings.

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MJF Centre Moratuwa

MJF Centre Moratuwa

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MJF Kids Programme At the Centre, over 100 children from low income families in the area receive educational support, classes in puppetry, cookery exercises and a chance to overcome the poverty they are born into. As MJF Kids, they receive medical screening, nutrition and a chance to celebrate special days such as World Environment Day, International Children’s Day and participate in outdoor excursions.

Rainbow CentreCerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome are conditions affecting a considerable population in Sri Lanka. Therapy, rehabilitation and care for persons affected by these conditions are specialised and therefore not commonly and readily available island wide. For children, the choices are even fewer and the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo is one of the few places able to provide therapy. In many instances, these children are sadly left to their own devices due to poverty and time constraints, leading to further disabilities. This is the sad but true condition affecting a large number of children and young adults suffering from Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome.

The Rainbow Centre which commenced operations in January 2012 to care for children with Autism and Down Syndrome, today provides 33 children with these disabilities the chance of a better life. Programmes include special education, singing and dancing lessons, hand crafts, painting, sewing, carpentry as well as stretching and breathing exercises, sign language classes and the opportunity to engage in home gardening at the Dilmah Conservation Sustainable Agriculture Research Centre situated within the MJF Centre Moratuwa.

The Foundation is working with Cerebral Palsy Lanka Foundation (CPLF) to provide much needed care and education for children with Cerebral Palsy. This programme commenced at the Rainbow Centre in May 2012 catering to nearly 25 children with therapeutical, simulative and sensory integration mechanisms. A fully functional centre equipped with the latest devices for occupational therapy provides much needed therapy for children with various disabilities. The Centre has tumble forms, standing frames, a ball pit as well as a multi sensory room - Sri Lanka’s first Snoezelen room and is managed by staff qualified in providing specialised therapy.

The Rainbow Centre is giving children with Cerebral Palsy a new lease in life. I am grateful to the MJF Centre for all the facilities provided.

Gopi Kitnasamy | Chartered Physiotherapist & parent of child with Cerebral Palsy

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1 Therapy & care for special children 2 A holistic approach 3 Art, craft & lots of fun 4 Special Country Roads concert for MJF Kids

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Nipuna – the artist At the MJF Centre Moratuwa, we consider 18 year old Nipuna special not because he has Down Syndrome, but because he is a talented teenager who has learned to overcome his disability. Nipuna is artistic and articulate – qualities that make him very special. The Rainbow Centre at the MJF Centre Moratuwa helps many others like Nipuna overcome their differences through a holistic programme consisting of support, therapy and activities.

Pankaja – the employed Twenty seven year old Pankaja is a regular at the MJF Centre Moratuwa. Although diagnosed with Down Syndrome he has overcome his condition with courage and determination and is now employed at Seri Naturals in their production facility. At the MJF Centre Moratuwa, a holistic programme combining activities and therapy help young people like Pankaja become independent.

Dunuri – learning to be independent Dunuri Rodrigo is 16-years old. She has limited intellectual capabilities as a result of Down Syndrome. She attends the Rainbow Centre for children with special needs at the MJF Centre Moratuwa and has shown remarkable improvement. Dunuri loves to bake cupcakes and seldom misses the opportunity to attend sewing classes. As part of the MJF Kids Programme, Dunuri now has a better chance to experience a relatively normal childhood.

Curtiss Centre for Design Over 145 underprivileged youth have been empowered thorough vocational training at the Curtiss Centre, which provides youth from marginalised backgrounds a chance to receive free courses in graphic design and Microsoft Word. This group includes several students with physical disabilities, who are now afforded a better future with the training received at the Centre.

In 2011, the first group of 15 students completed their 4-month design course. In 2012 a total of nearly 60 students graduated from the Centre. In addition to the course in graphics design, the Centre also commenced a 3-month MS Office course for older MJF Kids and their siblings. In January 2013, a further 59 students graduated from the Centre.

I am so happy to be working at Seri Naturals situated next door to the MJF Centre Moratuwa. Both places are now like home to me.

Pankaja | MJF Kid, Moratuwa

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1 Dunuri, blossoming under guidance 2 Nipuna, artistically gifted 3 Pankaja, gainfully employed 4 Training in graphic design for a better future

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Carpentry facility In March 2013, to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day, a fully functional carpentry facility was established at the MJF Centre Moratuwa for the benefit of MJF Kids. This facility will provide both special and mainstream MJF Kids training in woodwork in the future to give them a mode of livelihood and to enable their integration into society with minimum dependence on welfare.

Therapy through puppetry A unique programme using puppetry as therapy, encouraging creativity and helping children overcome their various disabilities. Puppetry lessons are some of the best attended classes at the MJF Centre Moratuwa.

Cooking their way to independence A programme catering to the needs of special children at the MJF Centre Moratuwa. Basic cookery lessons encourage children to become self-motivated and work independently. This programme gives MJF Kids the chance to experiment with their culinary skills.

Sewing classes MJF Kids with special needs as well as Kids from the mainstream are part of daily sewing classes at the MJF Centre Moratuwa. On any given day, several MJF Kids are busy creating beautiful designs with coloured thread and ribbons on pillow cases and cushion covers, putting together wall hangings or just learning the basic stiches. These activities encourage their creativity and their ability to concentrate.

Art & craft MJF Kids of various ages, the oldest being 35 year old Ranee, attend art and craft classes at the MJF Centre Moratuwa, where they paint to their hearts content and enjoy themselves immensely. Art and craft classes are used as a medium to help these children liberate themselves from the restrictions of their somewhat limited environments. Their creations are often expressions of their aspirations and their fears.

I am happy that my twelve year old son Chamara Prashath is able to attend music and painting lessons at the Centre. He never misses the opportunity come there.

Janaka Mendis | Furniture maker from Moratuwa

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1 MJF Kids during a cookery lesson 2 Therapy through puppetry3 Art & craft as a method of expression 4 Supporting education

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Our Core Commitment to Sustainability

Dilmah owes its success to the quality of Ceylon Tea. Our business was founded therefore on an enduring connection to the land and the communities in which we operate. We have pioneered a comprehensive commitment to

minimising our impact on the planet, fostering respect for the environment and ensuring

its protection by encouraging a harmonious coexistence of man and nature. We believe

that conservation is ultimately about people and the future of the human race, that efforts in conservation have associated human well-being and poverty reduction outcomes. These

core values allow us to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations of sustainability.

We reinforce our commitment to the principle of making business a matter of human service and to the core values of Dilmah, which are embodied in the Six Pillars of Dilmah.

We will strive to conduct our activities in accordance with the highest standards of corporate best practice and in compliance with all applicable local and international regulatory requirements and conventions.

We recognise that conservation of the environment is an extension of our founding commitment to human service.

We will assess and monitor the quality and environmental impact of its operations, services and products whilst striving to include its supply chain partners and customers, where relevant and to the extent possible.

We are committed to transparency and open communication about our environmental and social practices. We promote the same transparency and open communication from our partners and customers.

We strive to be an employer of choice by providing a safe, secure and non-discriminatory working environment for its employees whose rights are fully safeguarded and who can have equal opportunity to realise their full potential.

We promote good relationships with all communities of which we are a part and we commit to enhance their quality of life and opportunities whilst respecting their culture, way of life and heritage.

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Business as a matter of Human Service: Conserving nature, natural resources & cultural diversity

Dilmah Conservation was initiated in 2007 by Dilmah to incorporate environmental conservation efforts into the work of the MJF Charitable Foundation, which focuses on social justice. Dilmah Conservation works towards the sustainable use of the environment in partnership with other organisations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN, the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL), the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and a number of professional and academic institutions including several local universities. The pledge made by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando to make business a matter of human service is deeply ingrained in the work carried out by Dilmah Conservation.

Dilmah tea, which acknowledges its enduring connection to the land and the communities they operate in, is governed by a set of core values which decrees that that a percentage of profits made by companies within the Group be directed towards community and social upliftment programmes carried out by the MJF Charitable Foundation. With the establishment of Dilmah Conservation, these resources are now shared, and are being utilised for environmental conservation efforts carried out by Dilmah Conservation.

The Dilmah Conservation effort has as its objectives to explore biodiversity programmes that help offset negative impacts of monoculture on tea estates, promote biodiversity, species/habitat protection and awareness of sustainability. With the 2010 Declaration of a Core Commitment to Sustainability, Dilmah further reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable initiatives with environmental protection at its core.

Some of the major projects launched by Dilmah Conservation revolve around the creation of reconciliation programmes by using nature as a catalyst, protection of indigenous communities and their cultures, introducing sustainable initiatives in the spheres of agriculture and implementation of programmes on the protection of species habitat and biodiversity through public service announcements and other media.

The initiatives of Dilmah Conservation aim to foster respect for the environment and ensure its protection by encouraging harmonious coexistence between man and nature. We at Dilmah believe that, every individual and business has an obligation to ensure that a sustainable interaction with the environment is maintained at all times.

www.dilmahconservation.org

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As an organisation with a lasting connection to the earth and its resources, Dilmah endeavours to preserve and protect the environment we work in. Therefore our work programme on Mainstreaming Sustainability ensures that we minimise the impact of our operations and encourage sustainable agricultural practices, including minimising the use of agro chemicals, phasing out Methyl Bromide – a soil fumigant commonly used in tea plantations, and encourage sustainable agriculture through the Dilmah Conservation Sustainable Agriculture Research Centre (DCSARC).

Our efforts have led to assessment of species diversity within Dilmah tea estates, identification of important forest patches located inside tea estates and their habitat enrichment through connectivity conservation and growing over 50 varieties of vegetables using organic methods at the Agriculture Centre in Moratuwa.

An assessment of the sustainability of all Dilmah operations was carried out by IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2012, to ensure sustainable interaction with the environment. As a result of this assessment, the largest privately held solar power generating plant in the country was established in 2013 at the Dilmah Office and Production Facility in Peliyagoda. The solar plant is part of Dilmah’s efforts to take this commitment further and achieving carbon neutrality status within 5 years.

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Eco-friendly tea gardensFreshwater streams in selected Dilmah tea gardens are used to correlate basic water quality parameters with associated land based human activities and insect diversity. The data will be collated into an index of aquatic insects applicable to this country which can be applied as a tool for determining, monitoring and predicting water quality. Once the final results are published they will applicable to any comparable location in Sri Lanka. The programme has been in operation since 2011 and work on phase two commenced in February 2013. This is a joint effort between Dilmah Conservation and the Department of Zoology, University of Colombo. The research is multidisciplinary and ranges from the laboratory scale (detailed process studies) to the scale of actual ecosystems (field studies).

Bioregional InitiativeThe proposed connectivity conservation action plan under Dilmah’s Bioregional Initiative was launched during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Korea in September 2012. This is the first initiative in connectivity conservation undertaken by a private sector tea company in Sri Lanka. Tea estates, identified as semi natural areas, will play a major role in Sri Lanka’s efforts to conserve its biodiversity. It is estimated that nearly 20 % of the estates are under natural vegetation or plantation forestry. This translates into nearly 2500 hectares of forests with the potential for conservation under the Bioregional Initiative. As a major tea estate holder in Sri Lanka, Dilmah’s Bioregional Initiative is adding immense value to Dilmah tea. The objectives under the action plan include integrating Dilmah’s operations with national protected area systems, working in a series of pilot sites demonstrating, enhanced connectivity, benefit flows and carrying out an awareness campaign segmented and targeted to local, national and global audiences.

Ensuring sustainability & achieving carbon neutrality As part of Dilmah’s core commitment to sustainability which also led to the establishment of Dilmah Conservation in 2007, a solar array comprising 417 panels have been set up, with a power generation capacity of 100 kW (kilo Watt). The fully functional solar facility will generate around 150,000 kWh (kilo Watt hours) of solar power every year. Solar power is a clean and sustainable alternative to biofuels and Sri Lanka’s geographic positioning in close proximity to the equator provides ample sunlight to the solar array which is already operating 15% beyond expectation. As at the end of July 2013, 19,000 kilogrammes of CO2 have been saved from being emitted to the atmosphere as a result of the clean energy generated through the solar array. Furthermore, in an effort to facilitate carbon neutrality within the organisation, a comprehensive Carbon Footprint Calculation study was carried out by the University of Colombo in 2013.

There are many opportunities for working together with the government on connectivity conservation and Dilmah can influence and benefit from being involved in it.

Peter Shadie | World Heritage & Protected Areas specialist, IUCN

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1 Healthy tea gardens 2 Measuring water quality3 Connectivity Conservation4 Solar array at the Dilmah Office &

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Rejuvenation of tea plantationsCenturies of plantation monoculture in Sri Lanka, first with coffee and then tea, has resulted in Sri Lanka’s legendary tea country losing much of its top soil due to the unsustainable agricultural practices adopted. The programme launched by Dilmah Conservation to reverse these effects using bioremediation technology is progressing through the pilot study being conducted at the Houpé Estate in Kahawatte. Some of the methods under trial are biochar and aerated compost tea to improve soil conditions naturally, without the need for chemical additives. The findings so far are very positive with the soil conditions proving to be favourable for biochar application. The project’s ultimate goal is to develop sustainable agricultural practices island-wide.

Sustainable agriculture at the MJF Centre MoratuwaThe Dilmah Conservation Sustainable Agriculture Research Centre (DCSARC), which comprises of the Dilmah Conservation farm and Research Centre, was established at the MJF Centre Moratuwa to carry out research of high yield crops, grow pesticide free vegetables and provide a Centre where practical training and information could be provided on home gardening and sustainable agricultural practices to school children and adults.

The Centre demonstrates how to use organic material to grow vegetables even in limited spaces. On-site training includes successful implementation of vertical agriculture methods, used the world over as solutions to address food safety related issues and to address the lack of space in many urban cities.

With over 45 varieties of herbs, 55 varieties of vegetables and 10 varieties of fruit growing at the Centre, the DCSARC is Dilmah’s attempt to introduce healthy eating habits and sustainable lifestyles amongst communities to create a healthier future generation.

Making business climate & ozone friendlyMethyl Bromide (MeBr) is a toxic fumigant that has been used extensively as a soil fumigant in the estates. As a signatory to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Sri Lanka is obligated to phase out its use completely by 2015. In order to support the conditions of the Protocol, Dilmah ceased the use of Methyl Bromide in all Dilmah tea gardens and affiliated estates and shifted to Basamid-Granular. Dilmah’s efforts have been recorded in Goal Zero: Success stories from Asia Pacific and the Pacific in phasing out ozone depleting chemicals published by UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme. Dilmah Conservation is also in the process of driving towards alternatives to MeBr through a work programme which will promote usage of ozone friendly substances through a series of workshops and trilingual publications.

Sri Lanka’s Dilmah Tea is sharing its expertise in phasing out the use of Methyl Bromide as a soil fumigant to comply with the Montreal Protocol.

Goal Zero | published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

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1 Vertical agriculture at DCSARC2 Rejuvenating tea gardens through biochar

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A programme of work to ensure that accurate information relating to sustainability and conservation are disseminated to the relevant stakeholders using the most suitable method. Through the Environmental Education & Awareness programme, Dilmah Conservation has researched, compiled and presented educational material including audio visuals relating to our ongoing work and carried out a successful programme on educating the younger generation on the importance of using modern technology to observe, record and conserve nature. A series of field guides on important topics and an environmental lecture series for the general public are adding further value to this initiative.

Furthermore, through the Reconciliation through Power of Nature component, Dilmah Conservation is working extensively in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province to disseminate conservation related information in the local language. Dilmah has carried out a series of workshops, published Sri Lanka’s first Tamil publication on birds and supported the rebuilding of Jaffna’s famed Thondaimannaru Field Research Station – an institution that supported scientific education in the country before it was destroyed during the now concluded war.

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Reconciliation through the power of natureFollowing the conclusion of the three-decade-long war in Sri Lanka, the need for reconciliation was of paramount importance as the root causes and distrust between communities prevailed despite the end of hostilities. Recognising this need, Dilmah Conservation partnered with the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) and the Centre for Children’s Happiness, Jaffna (CCH) and initiated an environmental programme titled ‘Reconciliation through the Power of Nature’ which aimed to build a common Sri Lankan identity, with the younger generation as its principle target.

The programme targeted Jaffna’s youth who seldom had time to appreciate the beauty of nature. This project aimed at using nature as therapy to reconcile communities who had been traumatised and scarred by the war. A series of workshops, field studies and visits to Sinharaja World Heritage site facilitated by Prof Sarath Kotagama were carried out for students representing sixteen schools in the Jaffna District. They were given hands on, minds on experiences on ecology, bird watching and identification as well as knowledge on the environment.

Dilmah Conservation and FOGSL launched Sri Lanka’s first Tamil language publication on birds - The Birds of Sri Lanka, at the Jaffna Hindu College as part of this programme. The first copy of the publication was presented to the Chancellor of the Jaffna University Professor M. Sivasuriya by Professor Sarath Kotagama. Dilmah Conservation also donated 10 binoculars and 1 spotting scope to the CCH to facilitate bird watching and identification.

Rebuilding Jaffna’s lost prideIn early 2012, Dilmah Conservation laid the foundation stone to rebuild Jaffna’s famed Thondaimannaru Field Research Station. The Research Station was an integral part of scientific education in the Jaffna District and was the location where many aspiring scientists nurtured their knowledge of science. It was a silent victim of the conflict that raged for three decades. In February 2013, the newly constructed Field Research Station was vested on its hereditary custodians – the Field Works Centre (FWC), Jaffna’s scientific community and the people of the Northern Province.

This event was part of the ‘Reconciliation through Power of Nature’ programme carried out in partnership with Professor Sarath Kotagama, the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) and the Centre for Children’s Happiness, Jaffna (CCH). With the rebuilding of the Thondaimannaru Field Research Station, Jaffna’s scientific community will once again be able to inculcate scientific learning and thinking into Jaffna’s youth.

It is ironic that after the lapse of almost 30 years, I am here as the President of the same society to lay the foundation stone to rebuild my long lost friend.

Professor K. Sinnathamby | President – Field Work Centre (FWC), Thondaimannaru during the foundation stone laying ceremony to rebuild the Field Research Station

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1 Sri Lanka’s first Tamil publication on birds 2 Newly rebuilt Field Research Station in

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World Environment Day 2012 Initiatives The WED 2012 Competition, conducted under two categories, Go Wild on the Web and Nature Database, was organised by Dilmah Conservation for the 2nd consecutive year in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science (SLAAS), the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL) and the Funday Times. This initiative was held to celebrate World Environment Day (WED) which is an annual event of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The aim of the WED 2012 Competition, was to initiate children to the idea of being conscientious +and conscious living, where they respect and appreciate nature as an essential part of their lives. This was in line with the theme for World Environment Day 2012 – Green Economy: Does it include you?

They were given the opportunity to showcase their creative talent, computer literacy skills and thinking ability. Using their affinity with modern technology, the children were asked to either build a database using photography or, develop an interactive website guided and inspired by nature. The winners were selected by an expert panel of eminent judges.

The winners of the competitions were taken on a 3-day journey that took them from the mysterious and beautiful Sinharaja National Heritage Wilderness Area to the famous Udawalawe National Park. The 7 winners were given first hand education on the importance of these famous Sri Lankan landscapes by environmentalist and bird specialist Professor Sarath W. Kotagama.

Launch of the Business & Biodiversity PlatformThe Sri Lanka Business & Biodiversity Platform was launched by Dilmah Conservation in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature - IUCN and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. The Platform is a tool to foster dialogue between the private sector and conservation agencies and to facilitate the integration of biodiversity conservation within a business in order to achieve long term sustainability and minimise environmental damage caused as a result of rapid development. The Platform provides valuable services to Sri Lankan businesses that have invested in sustainable development and conserving the natural resources of our country.

Nature is a common platform for everyone. Be it children from the North or South,a chance to enjoy nature gives children an understanding that it must be conserved.

Professor Sarath Kotagama | Member, Dilmah Conservation Advisory Panel

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1 Trekking through Sinharaja 2 Face to face with a pachyderm 3 Young environmentalists in the making 4 Making businesses environment friendly

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The Culture & Indigenous Communities initiative of Dilmah Conservation supports the preservation of disappearing cultures of indigenous and traditional communities in Sri Lanka as these communities enhance the socio-cultural diversity of the country.

The Veddah have been identified as the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka with a history spanning many thousand years whilst the Ahikuntaka (gypsy) community are known for their colorful nomadic lifestyles. They lead somewhat secluded lives away from developments in the mainstream, a situation that is disadvantageous for both communities. Through Culture & Indigenous Communities initiative, Dilmah Conservation is affording these communities dignified empowerment, to ensure that they are able to continue their traditional way of life. Their ways of life have been documented in two landmark publications as a result.

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Dignified Empowerment for Veddahs A publication documenting the lives of the Veddahs of Sri Lanka titled Indigenous Communities in Sri Lanka: The Veddahs was published in 2012. The publication was made through the work carried out by Dilmah Conservation through their Culture and Indigenous Communities programme. The first copy of the publication was presented to Professor Ron Sanchez, Senior Professor of Management at the Copenhagen Business School by Dilhan C. Fernando, Director Marketing and son of Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando, during the Global Partner Conference held in May 2012.

The Veddah have been identified as the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka with a history spanning many thousand years. Their lives are intertwined with nature and forever dependent on the forests and the beasts that live within. However in the recent past, changing times and development have influenced and affected the continuation of the traditional lives that the Veddahs lead. The publication, chronicles in detail the lives of the coastal Veddahs of the country. For years given very little recognition, the coastal Veddahs had integrated overtime with the mainstream communities in the East and were leading obscure lives with little recognition of their true identities. “The publication and the studies are thus very timely” says Professor Sarath W. Kotagama, the Professor of Environmental Science, Bird Ecology and Behaviour, Conservation Biology and Ecotourism at the University of Colombo in his Foreword.

Upliftment for the Ahikuntaka communityGypsies or the ‘Ahikuntaka’ people are a minority community that has been steadily declining in their numbers in the face of social change and the emergence of technology and economic pressure. Gypsies are found in Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Moratuwa and Galgamuwa while small groups are found scattered in several part of Sri Lanka. Traditionally, the Ahikuntaka earned their livelihood through snake charming, taming monkeys for performing and fortune telling. Today, this community finds it difficult to continue with their traditional ways of life and often end up working in menial forms of employment in order to survive.

Dilmah Conservation stepped forward to empower the Ahikuntaka community by enhancing their social standards and by restoring their vanishing culture and traditions. As a first step, the most significant annual event of the Ahikuntaka, the Varigasabha, was held after a lapse of over half a century with Dilmah’s support. Dilmah Conservation has also constructed a Cultural Centre in Thambuththegama in the North Central Province, which serves as a museum cum community centre. A comprehensive publication documenting their lives, traditions and their current socio economic conditions titled Traditional communities in Sri Lanka: The Ahikuntaka was published by Dilmah Conservation as part of the Culture and Indigenous Communities Programme.

I am very happy that we were able to have the Varigasabha for the first time in the East. I am thankful to Dilmah Conservation for helping us organise this event.

Uruvarige Vanniyalaththo | Veddah Chief

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1 An Ahikuntaka family2 A traditional dwelling of the Ahikuntaka3 The annual pilgrimage of faith of the

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The Terrestrial Species & Habitat Conservation programme supports biodiversity conservation in the terrestrial environment through several programmes. This includes extensive work in the Udawalawe National Park in South Eastern Sri Lanka with the aim of making Udawalawe into a model national park in the country that offers visitors an enhanced nature experience.

Dilmah Conservation is working with Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation to continuously upgrade the facilities of the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home whilst the Elephant Information Centre managed by Dilmah continues to disseminate information on the importance of conserving the elephant to the general public.

Through the Novel Species Identification programme, new species of amphibians have been discovered while the butterfly garden at the Sustainable Agriculture Centre in Moratuwa provides a haven for nearly 50 species of butterfly.

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Novel species identification In 2012, Ranwella’s spined tree frog (Polypedates ranwellai), a unique species was discovered from the Gilimale Forest reserve in the Ratnapura district. The new species was found during a Dilmah Conservation sponsored research carried out in collaboration with the Herpetological Foundation of Sri Lanka and the Biodiversity Secretariat, in a tiny area of the Gilimale lowland rainforest in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Forest fragmentation has become the major threat in this area due to the fast rate of deforestation, while patches are also being converted into small tea holdings. Activities such as gem mining, sand mining, use of agro chemicals, clearing of forests on the periphery are also added threats. This species is declared as highly threatened.

In 2013, an additional 8 new species in the Pseudophilautus genus, only found in Sri Lanka and nearby India, were introduced through a study carried out in one of Sri Lanka’s biodiversity hotspots – the Peak Wilderness (Sripada) Sanctuary and World Heritage Site in the Central Highlands. Once again the research was carried out by the Herpetological Foundation with support from Dilmah Conservation and the Biodiversity Secretariat. The report published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa identifies these new species as possessing unique morphological characters that enable clear identification. The conservation status of 7 species described, have been considered as Critically Endangered. The species are named after 9 individuals who have worked for the betterment of the conservation sector and the country in general.

Sharing information on the elephantWith Sri Lanka’s expanding population, the encroachment of man into traditional elephant habitats has dramatically increased, leading to a human-elephant conflict which takes a vicious toll on elephant populations. In order to address this situation, Dilmah Conservation established the Elephant Information Centre (EIC) at the Udawalawe National Park to disseminate information on the elephant. The Centre plays a pivotal role on educating the general public and most importantly the future generations of this country on the importance of conserving the elephant. The Centre was recently refurbished and upgraded with up-to-date information on the elephant.

Dilmah Conservation is also working with the Department of Wildlife Conservation to support the work of the Elephant Transit Home (ETH) in Udawalawe. Here, the Foundation has assisted the Department to establish proper facilities for the treatment of wild elephants by caring for, nurturing and eventually releasing them back into the wild, baby elephants that have been orphaned as a result of the human-elephant conflict. Dilmah Conservation also established a solar array at the ETH to provide much needed hot water for the preparation of milk for nearly 30 resident baby elephants who need 8 feeds of milk, totaling to over 640 litres in total everyday.

The Elephant information centre is a gift not only to the Park but also to future generations of this country as it is a centre of learning.

Patali Champika Ranawaka | Former Minister of Environment & Natural Resources at the opening of the EIC

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1 New discoveries2 Supporting elephant conservation 3 Information dissemination on the elephant 4 Creating a balance between man and nature

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MankadaMankada is a project that was designed to sustainably empower an isolated community in Udawalawe. Traditionally, a community of brick-makers, this community lost their traditional livelihood due to competition and its remote location. Despite the revenue generating National Park in the vicinity, the profits seldom trickled down to the adjacent communities, who lived in relative poverty eking out a living by engaging in various forms of manual labour. This was the prevailing situation when Dilmah intervened to support community empowerment by setting up a pottery centre.

The MJF Charitable Foundation, with the support of a master potter, trained, equipped and mentored the community in its transformation from unskilled labour to craftsmen with the associated benefits to quality of life and income. Mankada produces one of a kind handmade terracotta kitchenware, replicas of animals, pendants, mugs, teapots, tea bag holders and a variety of beautiful and original craft. The art is inspired by the Udawalawe National Park in the vicinity, home to many species of fauna and flora.

Today items produced by the skilled potters at Mankada have reached international acclaim with items being included in the Jme Collection of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, a name synonymous with culinary masterpieces as the Naked Chef, Jamie at home and Jamie’s Ministry of Food, all super rated food shows with millions of viewers across the globe. He is a household name in Great Britain with a mass fan following on Facebook and Twitter. Jamie believes in giving back to the community where he promotes sustainable products and practices.

Where butterflies dance…The Butterfly Garden at the Sustainable Agriculture Centre is the latest addition to Dilmah Conservation’s portfolio. Located on a quiet corner of the sprawling MJF Centre Moratuwa, the Garden plays host to nearly 50 varieties of butterfly including several endemic species. The Garden has been designed to provide a safe haven for these species’, whose natural life cycles are threatened by the loss of habitat and host plants in many environments around the country. Identified as some of the most fascinatingly beautiful yet fragile creatures found on earth, dwindling butterfly populations are a sign of rapid urbanisation and loss of greenery. The Butterfly Garden is yet another endeavour aimed at supporting conservation efforts in the country while providing a place for butterflies to nurture.

Where ethics are concerned, the commitment is twofold - to sharing the benefits of the success of Dilmah with those less privileged and to conserve the environment.

Meindert Brouwer | The Ecosystem Promise

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1 Appreciating nature at the butterfly garden 2 Mankada items promoted by Jamie Oliver3 A haven for butterflies 4 Women potters at work

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Whenever biodiversity is discussed, the sea is often neglected. Yet, it could easily be the richest part of the biosphere. Of the 1.5 million species identified to date by science, 80 per cent are terrestrial. But this figure is misleading as it could merely reflect the amount of work done by scientists on land which is easier to navigate for us humans who are land bound creatures.

As such Dilmah Conservation has taken the initiative to protect fragile marine ecosystems and its diverse fauna and flora. The end of the conflict in the country, which primarily impacted the North and East of Sri Lanka, has opened up both, opportunities and threats to the environment and its ecology in these areas. Over the past thirty years, coastal regions in the East have been relatively untouched by development and the marine environment has seen little or no human exploitation. This is the reason why we are working to protect some of Sri Lanka’s pristine coral reefs and carry out an information dissemination campaign targeting school children in the North on the importance of conserving the globally threatened Dugong.

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Habitat & Species Conservation – Marine

Habitat & Species Conservation – Marine

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Working to preserve the Kayankerni ReefDilmah Conservation through its Marine Habitat & Species Conservation Programme has researched and documented some of Sri Lanka’s pristine coastal areas in the north and east of the country. Work is currently carried out in Kayankerni, situated on the eastern coastal belt, identified as one of the best preserved coral reefs in Sri Lanka, to document its marine fauna and flora and to establish a basis for elevating its conservation status in the future.

Public awareness of the project is being created through different media and the aim of the Marine Conservation Programme is to sustain the prevailing marine diversity and create awareness among the communities of the importance of marine life.

Conserving the globally threatened dugong The Marine Conservation Programme includes research on the globally threatened marine mammal - the Dugong (Dugong dugon). An information dissemination campaign targeting school children and fisher communities in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province is now underway in a joint collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Education Department.

Sri Lanka became a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and Their Habitats throughout their Range (Dugong MOU) in January 2012. The Dugong MOU operates under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

Preliminary work on the programme, including questionnaire surveys and knowledge gathering have already been conducted by the UNEP/CMS Office in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation, IUCN Sri Lanka and Dilmah Conservation. This includes surveys to gather knowledge on Dugong distribution, abundance, and their ‘hotspots’ and main threats particularly from incidental capture by net fisheries.

The Dugong is the only representative of the order of mammals known as Sirenia in Sri Lanka, and was once abundant in the waters of the country’s northwestern coast. The order Sirenia gets its name from the myth that Dugongs were believed to be mermaids or sirens of the sea. Although the Dugong is classified as Vulnerable to Extinction in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the status of the species in Sri Lanka puts it in the endangered classification.

Being designated as vulnerable means that dugongs may disappear altogether and there is a strong likelihood of that happening in the coming 20-30 years.

Dr. Nicholas Pilcher | Marine Biologist & dugong conservation specialist

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1 Species conservation underwater 2 Corals on Kayankerni3 Protecting coastal ecosystems4 Conserving the globally threatened Dugong

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The Ecosystems Restoration programme commenced in 2011 with aim to restore some of Sri Lanka’s degraded forest areas and to rejuvenate the eastern coastal town of Batticaloa, that had been degraded due to two natural disasters that occurred within a space of three decades. The Greening Batticaloa programme combines ensuring sustainability in Batticaloa through the planting of over 100,000 cashew trees and providing the recipient communities with the means of livelihood enhancement eventually when the cashew trees bear fruit. Ecosystem restoration in Thoppigala, an area degraded due to the now concluded war, was successfully implemented with the planting of 20,000 native saplings inside the Thoppigala Heritage Park.

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Ecosystems Restoration

Ecosystem Restoration

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Habitat enrichment in Thoppigala In 2012, as part of its Ecosystem Restoration initiative in the Eastern Province, Dilmah Conservation commenced a programme to plant 20,000 native trees in the Thoppigala area, emphasising on fruit varieties to bring socio-economic benefit to the people and create a habitat for birds and animals. This was done in collaboration with the Forest Department with support from the Army. Taking the concept of sustainability a step further, Dilmah established the Dilmah Conservation Heritage Centre at the Thoppigala Heritage Park where the environment of Sri Lanka and its biodiversity is presented in 3D models and other educational features for students and adult visitors alike. The Thoppigala Heritage Park was vested in the public during a ceremony held in April with the participation of Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando.

Greening Batticaloa The programme to plant 50,000 cashew trees in Batticaloa, a bustling city on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka that has suffered from dual natural disasters in the last thirty years, commenced in 2011. A powerful cyclone in 1978 and the Asian Tsunami in 2004 caused considerable loss of greenery in Batticaloa, and this has been identified as one of the factors contributing to the excessive heat experienced in this area as the two events are said to have caused the depletion in the forest cover.

According to research, the area needs 150 sq. km of forest cover to reverse the adverse situation. Dilmah Conservation initially embarked on the Greening Batticaloa programme to plant 50,000 cashew trees but this evolved to planting 100,000 trees within a span of three-years in the coastal areas between Valachchenai to Kalavanchikudi, where the loss of forest cover was high, due to the success of the initial programme. The cashew trees will form a protective green canopy which will adjust the ecosystem through carbon absorption mechanisms. Dilmah Conservation embarked on this project with the assistance of the Cashew Cooperation, the Divisional Secretariat and the Sri Lanka Army. Possible recipient candidates to maintain cashew plantations were identified by the Divisional Secretariat office based on the availability of land and their ability to contribute to 50 per cent of the costs. On the long-term, suitable support will be given to the community to produce cashew for commercial purposes, which will help enhance their livelihoods.

It is envisaged that the cashew plantations will strengthen the socio-economic standing of the community whilst improving the ecology of Batticaloa. Keeping in line with our Founder’s philosophy that “you cannot convince a poor and hungry man the need for conservation”, Dilmah Conservation will ensure that ecological restoration of Batticaloa is carried out in sync with community empowerment.

You cannot convince a poor and hungry man the need for conservation. Merrill J. Fernando | Founder of Dilmah Conservation

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1 Distribution of cashew in Batticaloa 2 Thoppigala Memorial 3 Encouraging conservation amongst children4 Aerial view of Thoppigala

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Beyond Profit: A common goal to make business a matter of human service

The Ethical Tea Society (ETS) was established by Dilmah in recognition of the importance of sharing one small but important aspect of the work of the MJF Charitable Foundation; that is the deep sense of fulfillment that is an indirect benefit of the process of changing lives. It is best described in the words of American writer Maya Angelou, who wrote, “Among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver”.

The Society also has the objective of harnessing the enormous goodwill and creativity of the global family of Dilmah Partners and their networks of consumers and well wishers to benefit the underprivileged. Their potential role in working with the ETS and Dilmah in offering MJF Foundation Small Entrepreneurs, direct access to their artisanal craft to customers around the world is immeasurably liberating.

The Society and its global membership are also expected to enhance the effectiveness of MJF Charitable Foundation programmes of assistance by sharing ideas, or offering support in strengthening or extending existing programmes of humanitarian assistance or environmental protection.

The work of the MJF Charitable Foundation is founded on the philosophy of making business a matter of human service; it is therefore the consumers who enjoy Dilmah tea, retail and hospitality operators who present Dilmah tea for sale, that are instrumental in making Dilmah a viable business. It is only logical that they share in the sense of satisfaction that comes with the philosophy.

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www.ethicalteasociety.org

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Ethical Tea Society

The Dhiriya Centre Siyambalanduwa, situated off Moneragala is officially the poorest and most underdeveloped region in the country. The communities in this rural region have little access to education and few employment prospects and are therefore destined to be farmers who barely manage to eke out a living. Recognising their helplessness, the Foundation established the Dhiriya vocational training centre which was initially established with support from Dilmah Partner Gourmet Foods of Poland, through the Ethical Tea Society. Dhiriya offers Diploma level courses in IT and dress-making, and also provides special revision classes for students sitting for the GCE Ordinary Level examinations. Approximately 500 students benefit from the Centre and the “pass” rate at the exam increased by 57% during the first year of the centre’s establishment. Most students who complete training programmes at the Dhiriya Centre find gainful employment or become self-employed based around the training programmes that it conducts.

Mankada Pottery CentreMankada is an initiative of the MJF Foundation Centre for Empowerment through Traditional Sri Lankan Arts & Crafts which was set up primarily to support and empower marginalised communities living on the periphery of the Udawalawe National Park in south eastern Sri Lanka. Mankada produces one of a kind handmade terracotta kitchenware, replicas of animals, pendants, mugs, teapots, tea bag holders and a variety of beautiful and original craft. These ethical handmade products are marketed to consumers worldwide through the Dilmah Partner Network. At present handmade pendants portraying five endemic species found at Udawalawe are being promoted with a range of Dilmah tea offered in Kaliningrad. Mankada creations continue to receive queries from all across the world.

Soles for Souls with our Partner from the United States An initiative spearheaded by Dilmah Partner in the United States, Unity Brands Group, LLC. As part of the first phase of the programme, 1000 new pairs of shoes were distributed in projects carried out by the MJF Charitable Foundation. In the Moneragala District, shoes were distributed amongst students in the School for the Hearing and Visual Impaired and in Siyambalanduwa amongst deserving youth attending the Dhiriya Centre. Shoes were also distributed in Point Pedro, Jaffna, where the MJF Foundation has established a MJF Kids Programme and in the plantations. Unity Brands Group, LLC worked closely with Soles4Souls, a US charity that collects and distributes new shoes amongst people who need support.

Many people from our village have found employment at Mankada – I was even able to purchase a small house for my family with my earnings.

Anoma | pottery artist, Mankada

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1 Pottery triumphs over poverty at Mankada 2 Shoes for children in Point Pedro3 Vocational training at Dhiriya4 Empowering women through life skills

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Ethical Tea Society

Dilmah Tea for anti cancer drive in Cyprus Dilmah Tea was an integral part of the Christmas bazaar organised by the Cyprus Electricity Authority in 2012 where all funds raised are donated to the Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society. Dilmah Tea was on offer as a thirst quencher while our Global Partner in Cyprus - Clappas Trading House - also donated tea packs and frosted mugs for sale during the bazaar. Fresh tea, prepared on site as well as the mugs and the packs were well received by a large group of enthusiastic shoppers who thronged the bazaar for Christmas bargains.

Mankada goes to ChileAn exquisite tea leaf shaped tea bag holder, handmade at Mankada, part of the MJF Foundation Centre for Empowerment through Traditional Sri Lankan Arts and Crafts is now being promoted in Chile as a gift option. Consumers in Chile are offered this ethically produced tea bag holder with every purchase of the particular pack. Mankada was established by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando to provide a group of marginalised villagers living on the periphery of the Udawalawe National Park in South Eastern Sri Lanka with a mode of livelihood. Today, Mankada has evolved to produce gift items, kitchenware and jewellry. Some of the items produced at Mankada include species discovered in Dilmah tea gardens and endemic species in the Udawalawe National Park.

Our work in the CISOur work in the CIS included working with 2 orphanages in Russia and Ukraine and a fundraising event in Belarus. In Russia, Dilmah donated an IT unit to the Khimky Orphanage in the Moscow Region. A special feature of the evening was the linking of MJF Kids with kids from the orphanage via Skype. In Ukraine, Dilmah worked with Caravan Hyper markets to refurbish the dormitories at the Priluky Orphanage, located 100 kilometres away from Kiev. During the ceremony held at the orphanage, the Dilmah Founder was entertained with a number of musical events presented by the talented children. In Belarus, a charity auction featuring tea pots made at Mankada, the MJF Foundation Centre for Empowerment through Traditional Sri Lankan Arts and Crafts was held to raise funds for a heart transplant operation for a child.

Among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.Maya Angelou | American writer

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1 Mankada pendants featuring Udawalawe species

2 Children at the orphanage in Ukraine 3 Mankada featured on a pack for Chile 4 The Settlor being welcomed by children in

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MILESTONES IN THE EVOLUTION OF A COMMITMENT TO MAKING BUSINESS A MATTER OF HUMAN SERVICE1930 MJF born in Pallansena, a small hamlet near the seaside town of Negombo. 1952 MJF goes for training at Joseph Travers &

Sons Ltd, Cannon Street, London. Whilst there he sees the exploitation of his crop at the hands of middlemen. He pledges to make

a difference by establishing the first producer owned tea brand, to offer quality tea and share the pleasure in tea whilst also sharing

the success of his tea with the underprivileged. 1962 MJF establishes his own business, Merrill J. Fernando Co. Ltd., and shares his

earnings with his staff of 18 and their families. 1997 Dilmah begins to support the Hospice in New Zealand. 2000 Dilmah began

humanitarian support for tea plantation communities, including those on estates belonging to competitors. 2002 Merrill’s pledge

evolves to a major charitable effort with the establishment of the MJF Charitable Foundation to go beyond the tea industry. 2005

The MJF Charitable Foundation engages in a substantial post tsunami rehabilitation effort. The Small Entrepreneur Programme

(SEP) is born and a major housing and entrepreneurship development project commenced in Batticaloa, Eastern Sri Lanka, where

a 3-decade long war raged. 2006 The MJF Kids Programme is inaugurated as an effort to empower children from deprived urban

communities. 2007 Extending the philosophy of making business a matter of human service, Dilmah Conservation is established

to promote sustainable interaction with the environment, biodiversity, species and marine habitat conservation. 2010 The first MJF

Centre was established in Moratuwa, with the intention of supporting differently abled children. The MJF Kids programme was

inaugurated in Point Pedro in Jaffna, Northern Sri Lanka where the conflict had ended in 2009.

2012 The MJF Charitable Foundation has touched the lives of over hundred thousand individuals in Sri Lanka fulfilling the pledge made by MJF

Merrill J. Fernando Minette PereraJames Selvam Mather Malik J. FernandoK. R. Ravindran Dilhan C. FernandoRajan Asirwatham Himendra Ranaweera

Dilhan C. Fernando Prof. Sarath W. Kotagama Shiranee Yasaratne Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya

Trustees of the MJF Charitable Foundation

Members of the Dilmah Conservation Advisory Panel

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A pledge to support humanityA gathering of over two hundred members of Dilmah’s Global Family demonstrated support for the unique vision of Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando who built his tea business on a foundation of family values. The group was in Sri

Lanka for the Dilmah Global Partner Conference. As a part of the celebration of The Teamaker’s 82nd birthday, they signed a commitment to participate in the unique philosophy of making business a matter of human service.

The declaration was made on 7th May 2012 as the ‘Dilmah Family’ visited the MJF Foundation’s Centre in Moratuwa in Western Sri Lanka.

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www.dilmahtea.com www.dilmahconservation.org www.mjffoundation.org

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Merrill J. FernandoSettlor, MJF Charitable Foundation

We come into this world with nothing, we leave with nothing. The wealth some of us acquire is owed to the

efforts and cooperation of many others around us. Let us, therefore, share that wealth, while we are still around, so that the goodwill and contentment created thereby may

make our world a happier place for others too.

MJF Holdings Ltd., 111 Negombo Road, Peliyagoda, Sri Lanka.

( +94 11 482 2000 Fax +94 11 482 2001 [email protected] www.mydilmah.com

www.facebook.com/dilmah www.twitter.com/dilmah

The Story Behind Your Cup of Tea

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