Acts Of Chari-Tea

The founder of the popular Dilmah brand, Merrill J Fernando, does more than just produce tea for the masses, he also works to give back to society

- Kathlyn D'Souza

Centuries ago, tea workers suffered through inhumane working conditions, abject income levels, and poor housing and health conditions due to overcrowding and unhygienic living conditions. Things were especially bad during peak seasons, where temporary workers are employed by tea gardens at wages lower than the minimum. Some companies like Dilmah Tea though, are setting the standards and ensure that it runs its business ethically—that all employees have basic necessities provided and are treated fairly. Through the Merrill J Fernando (MJF) Charitable Foundation, all profits are retained in Sri Lanka and reinvested to improve living standards among tea estate workers and the community at large. We speak to the man who believes that “business is a matter of human services,” and discover how he built his tea business from scratch and flourished by putting his people first.

What were your growing up years like?

I was born in a small fishing village, 30km away from the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, to a family of eight. I had a modest upbringing. We were not rich by any means, but my parents, particularly my mother, inculcated strong values in us. These values may have driven my ambition to succeed.

I was thinking of becoming a lawyer while in school. At that time, tea tasting and trading were under British hands, and was not an option for local people for many years. However, in the year I passed my senior school certificate, there were six boys recruited to tea tasting and I happened to be one. It was a very coveted job, so when that offer came to me I was surprised. It was too good to turn down, so I gave up my thoughts of becoming a lawyer and became a tea taster.

Tell us about how you started your tea business.