Merrill J. Fernando celebrates 70 years in tea industry

Merrill J. Fernando

The most experienced teamaker in the world, Merrill J. Fernando today celebrates 70 years of his lifetime devoted to tea. 

His lifelong journey began in the 1950s after witnessing inequality as a young teamaker. Almost three decades later, with only a big dream to share authentic single origin Ceylon Tea with the world, he established Dilmah Tea. 

Today, this is a tea business that has generated up to $ 40 million of direct humanitarian aid and environmental interventions. 

As Merrill Fernando approaches his 70th year in tea, which also coincides with his 90th birthday, he has renewed his pledge of donating 10% of pre-tax profit and increased it to 15% to ensure that Dilmah will continue to be of human service.