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Dilmah News

Dilmah in News

A Sri Lankan Underdog Battles Global Tea Giants
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NEW YORK TIMES updated Jan 2010
Not all Teas are created equal
Tea's Health secrets unlocked in New Zealand study
Dilmah has found new secrets to what teas are best to help people reduce the risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes. Building upon the growing body of scientific evidence that supports the ancient wisdom that tea is good for human health, family tea company Dilmah, commissioned one of the world’s finest research organisations to study traditional Ceylon Tea growing, harvesting and production methods.
The research reveals that teas grown at certain altitudes, during some seasons and then processed in specific ways contain more antioxidant properties than other teas.
Shiromani Jayasekera, a PhD student at Massey University ’s Riddet Institute, collected tea samples from Sri Lanka ’s main Ceylon tea growing regions at various times over a period of 12 months. The samples were then shipped to Palmerston North, with the assistance of the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka and with Ministry of Agriculture approval, for laboratory tests.
Tea began as a medicine and the earliest references to tea in the Tang Dynasty, list its benefits for human health. The fact that the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, contains polyphenolic antioxidants, has been established by modern studies. International research, including a Harvard Medical School study in 2007 (Hollenberg), concluded that tea could help reduce the risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes.

Other studies have looked at the effect of an antioxidant in tea on protecting the skin from UV damage and tumour formation.
Ms Jayasekera says that recent invitro and animal studies have demonstrated that tea flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-mutagenic activities (Yang et al, 2002), anti bacterial (Sakanaka et al 2000) and even anti-parasitic activities (Paveto et al and Molan et al 2003, 2004).
The focus of Jayasekera’s preliminary research was to establish the chemical composition and antioxidant properties specifically of Ceylon teas. Dilmah picks and packs single origin Ceylon teas and wanted to know more about how altitude, soil types, weather, seasons, processing and freshness affected those chemical properties.

Dilhan Fernando, son of Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando and Dilmah Marketing Director, says the 3 year investigation is helping Dilmah ensure that its teas are rich in natural antioxidants. Dilhan contends that the combination of quality, indulgent variety and natural goodness makes fresh, single origin tea the perfect beverage for a 21st century lifestyle.
Dilmah is keen to continue to learn more about the goodness in its teas and how the protective effects in tea can be maximised, he says, so that his family can offer tea drinkers as much information about tea’s health giving properties as it can.

As the research has commercial benefits to Dilmah, the intellectual property in Jayasekera’s report will remain confidential. However, tea drinkers will be able to share the benefits as Dilmah responds to the findings.
The Director of the Riddet Institute Professor Paul Moughan says the results of the tea research are so encouraging that is planned to follow up with human studies next year.
Professor Moughan says he is delighted Dilmah saw the value in funding the research in New Zealand and that Dilmah Founder Merrill J Fernando and Dilhan Fernando were able to visit Massey University to discuss the findings in person with Jayasekera and the Riddet Institute staff.
Dilmah Felicitated by IUCN,
The World Conservation Union
Director General of IUCN, the World Conservation Union, felicitated Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando, at IUCN Headquarters in Gland , Switzerland , for his ‘foresight and leadership … in integrating environmental aspects into business”. In line with Merrill J. Fernando’s commitment in the 1950s, to making his business a matter of human service, the Dilmah business model includes a strong emphasis on social justice and environmental sustainability. IUCN and Dilmah have co-operated closely since entering into a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003.
The relationship between IUCN and the Dilmah Companies strengthened in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 tsunami as the MJF Charitable Foundation, a charity formed by Merrill J. Fernando, and IUCN worked together in post tsunami reconstruction and rehabilitation in the Hambantota District. That association was founded on IUCN support in implementing Dilmah and MJF Foundation initiatives and evolved from tsunami relief to preservation of ecosystems, livelihood enhancement, gender issues, species conservation and the environment.

The Dilmah Conservation initiative in 2007 enhanced a commitment to conservation and is based on close co-operation with IUCN in conserving threatened and endangered species emerging from the Red Listing Process. This includes Dilmah Conservation support for the Amphibian Ark project as a Founding Partner of the IUCN HOPart initiative.

Dilmah was felicitated by IUCN for their unique effort in integrating humanitarian and environmental aspects into their business model.
Founder of Dilmah, Merrill J. Fernando and his son Dilhan C. Fernando, were present at a ceremony at IUCN Headquarters in Gland , Switzerland , on January 28. The event was hosted by the Director General of IUCN, Julia Marton-Lefèvre and attended also by IUCN Deputy Director General, William Jackson, Head of the Business and Biodiversity Programme, Mohammed Rafiq and IUCN’s Country Representative in Sri Lanka , Shiranee Yasaratne.

Felicitating the Dilmah Founder and Settlor of the MJF Charitable Foundation, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of IUCN commended the MJF Foundation for ‘.. the visible improvement in the lives of communities that depend on natural resources and enhancing community appreciation of the need for conservation of natural resources for future generations through Dilmah initiatives.’
The Dilmah Tea companies are guided by the philosophy that “Business is a matter of Human Service”. That philosophy is crystallised in the Five Pillars of Dilmah, Quality, Authenticity, our Customer, Ethics and Integrity. Based on the concept of a family business operating with family values, the Dilmah business model integrates social justice at its core.
Revenues from the sale of Dilmah Tea in over 90 countries around the world are shared with the underprivileged through the work of the MJF Charitable Foundation. In developing the concept of making Dilmah a business that is also a matter of human service, Dilmah Conservation was established in March 2007.

This is a pioneering effort for the private sector, aimed at integrating environmental sustainability into the core of the Dilmah business model. It supplements the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian objectives. Dilmah Conservation has the aim of fostering environmental sustainability via strategic partnership with organisations like IUCN and Landcare (Australia) on specific projects.
Prison Break - helping reformed prisoners become good citizens
Prison Break - helping reformed prisoners become good citizens
The MJF Foundation’s Small Entrepreneur Programme (SEP) has empowered underprivileged people in the most remote parts of
Sri Lanka. In October 2007 SEP took on a new angle – helping reformed prisoners escape the stigma of their past misdeeds and incarceration. Earlier this week the Foundation’s unique ‘Reform & Integrate’ SEP programme – the first of its kind in Sri Lanka – complete the second stage of several that target 300 entrepreneurs from the prison system alone.
The MJF Charitable Foundation was established by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando, to fulfill his wish to make his family business ‘a matter of human service.’ In seeking to integrate family values into the soul of his business, Merrill – now joined by his sons Malik and Dilhan – emphasizes the humanitarian service his business renders as much as his commitment to quality, authenticity and natural goodness in his Dilmah tea.
Revenue from the global sales of Dilmah Tea fund the work of the MJF Foundation. Recognised by the Government of Sri Lanka, by social justice and environmental activists for the sustainability of the Dilmah business model, Merrill and his sons claim that they are only following a natural and traditional way of doing business.
The MJF Foundation aims to empower the underprivileged in a dignified and sustainable manner. SEP best exemplifies this for it facilitates, through equipment, guidance and materials, the initiative and talent of poor people who have the ability but lack the means to better themselves. The programme understands the capability of underprivileged people from the most isolated parts of Sri Lanka, and grants each, according to their ability, machinery, training and material that will help them in establishing or developing micro enterprises.
The success of SEP is largely ascribed to the respect it offers beneficiaries in avoiding traditional dependency prone models for assistance, and in partnering with the beneficiaries. The programme allows SEP beneficiaries to harness their own skills and talents to better themselves.
The Reform & Integrate element of SEP has enjoyed the same unprecedented success as the rest of the SEP programme in tsunami affected areas, conflict zones and underdeveloped parts of Sri Lanka. Shortly after a formal event where Merrill J. Fernando, Settlor of the MJF Foundation, and the Deputy Minister for Justice handed out the various forms of assistance, several of the first batch of recipients shared their experiences. All spoke of harnessing their desire to work hard to secure good incomes and take care of their families. Several had, in a relatively short period, used their income to buy hand and build homes of their own.
June 2008