Dilmah Tea

In memory of Merrill J. Fernando

Surrounded by his sons and grandchildren, iconic Teamaker, Disrupter and Servant Merrill J. Fernando passed in Colombo this morning. The visionary founder of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company’s greatness was in his invincible faith, his integrity and love for tea & family. With devotion and urgency he pursued his desire for integrity and quality with humility and kindness. His achievement in disrupting an exploitative colonial industry irrevocably changed the lives of producers around the world introducing a paradigm shift in ethical business before ethics and sustainable business acquired the prominence they have now.

Merrill J Fernando was a disrupter whose mission was simply for his passion to make lives better for other people. His humble, rural Sri Lankan beginnings, and the Christian family values that surrounded him defined his life. He devoted his life to tea, working every day until the age of 91 – and maintaining vigilance until he passed at the age of 93 - in spreading the message of Pure Ceylon Tea. He was relentless in this too, fighting against efforts at compromise, or adulteration of his beloved Ceylon Tea. The reasons for his uncompromising defence of quality was his belief in integrity, and in value addition as the only means of benefiting workers and the future of Ceylon Tea.

The man who was once known as ‘the Dedicated Founder’ leaves two generations who share his conviction. As he is called home to rest in the arms of his beloved Lord Jesus, his achievement is as much in inspiring his generations to carry the torch of integrity and commitment to tea as it is in strengthening the dreams of producers. His passion, devotion, commitment, love and kindness will forever inspire us to continue to strive for the excellence he always demanded while never compromising on positively impacting the lives of less fortunate people.

We remember Merrill J. Fernando for his humanity and his achievement in personally and passionately creating a global family behind the cause he pursued every day of his life for 73 years; Ceylon Tea with Taste, Goodness and ethical Purpose. Please join us in celebrating the life of Merrill J. Fernando and the profound impact he has had on our world.

His remains will lie at the Restpect Funeral Parlour on Friday, the 21st of July 2023 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 22nd of July from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, followed by a Private burial at St. Mary's - Pallansena, Negombo.

To learn more about our Founder's life and to share your condolences: mjf.dilmahtea.com

濃情端午，粽情相約。
鹹粽用Dilmah帝瑪伯爵茶，甜粽用Dilmah帝瑪調味茶，絕佳搭擋，嚐試選用Dilmah帝瑪茶。

Dilmah帝瑪祝您兔年吉祥。

日月相推而明生，寒暑相推而歲成。
帝瑪紅茶祝您 2023年事事順利，平安幸福。

R.I.P. Olivia Newton-John
奧莉薇亞·紐頓-強在2012年到可倫坡，拜訪了Dilmah Tea帝瑪紅茶。