Winning way for the Business for Peace Award

Saturday, 25 April 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Merril J. Fernando Dilmah has got yet another boost with the founder Merril J. Fernando becoming one of the 2015 Oslo Business for Peace Honourees. He is the first Sri Lankan recipient of the coveted award conferred by the Business for Peace Foundation every year. The Daily FT reported that the Award is in recognition of business persons who, through their own actions and commitments, truly are business-worthy promoting socially responsible and ethical business practices in an outstanding way, and standing out as examples to the world. The selection is an endorsement of the silent service by the MJF Charitable Foundation seeking no publicity for the work done. Glancing through the pages of a Dilmah publication titled ‘The Story Behind Your Cup of Tea’, the inner cover page has this quote from Merril: “For centuries, problems of mankind have been solved over a cup of tea. Whether they were problems between nations, amongst businesses, even families, between husband 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.” ‘Business is a matter of Human Service’ The publication then goes on to record the work done by the Foundation in keeping with the theme, ‘Business is a matter of Human Service’. Six Pillars of Dilmah have been identified under this theme. They are six core values – Tradition, Authenticity, Quality, Consumer, Integrity and Sustainability. Bringing integrity to tea is the Company’s pledge. Dilmah Tea honours a tradition with a commitment to tea that is made in the traditional, orthodox manner that was perfected over centuries. The Merril Fernando Charitable Foundation had been formed by the founder to utilise revenue from sales of Dilmah Tea to benefit the underprivileged. It designs, funds and manages over 100 projects each year, while positively changing the lives of over 100,000 people each year, according to the publication. The 2004 December tsunami came just about a year after the Foundation was established. It created a situation which demanded considerable short-term attention but the focus of the Foundation predominantly revolves around long-term sustainability by empowering individuals, families and whole communities to help themselves. Distribution of equipment following the tsunami to communities to resume their vocations paved the way for the Foundation’s Poverty Alleviation Programme – a long-term, socio-economic relief effort. The Small Entrepreneur Programme provides equipment and funds to launch a vocational-based business. 800 persons have benefitted from the scheme. The Prison Reforms & Integrate Programme forms a part of the scheme. Plantations high on priority list Plantations, naturally, are high on the priority list and the Foundation places much emphasis on education in the plantations, particularly in avenues for higher education. A scholarship scheme has been set up by the Foundation while improving facilities in plantation schools. The first doctor from the plantations, scholarship holder Balakrishnan Satyaraj, a son of a tea picker in Somerset Estate has passed out from the Rajarata Medical Faculty. 245 students have so far been awarded scholarships. The Foundation has upgraded and built at least 75 creches and child development centres. A steady programme to supply mid-day meals to these centres is in operation. Healthcare initiatives in the form of ante-natal and post-natal maternal care, immunisation, health education, eye care and oral health have helped to improve the health conditions. Medical camps are held regularly. The Foundation’s efforts to empower the differently able have reached remote areas. Mentoring the Subhagya Vidyalaya, a school for the hearing and visually-impaired in Monaragala, is just one example. A scheme has been started in the north and east to help families to start afresh after the long-drawn war. It was launched when 100 war-affected women in Point Pedro were given livelihood support to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It was later extended to Batticaloa. These and many more activities continue to benefit the needy.

‘Cellscapes’ solo exhibition by Shaanea in May

A solo exhibition by Shaanea Amantha Mendis D’Silva titled ‘Cellscapes’ will be held at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from 15 to 18 May, concentrating on her more abstract textural exploration through mediums of watercolour, pen and ink and her unique rust stain work. Inspired by patterns and texture and how they evolve in our natural surroundings, her pieces are meditative in both creation and observation. Shaanea (1982) is a Sri Lankan born artist currently based in Mumbai, India. After completing her primary and secondary education at Ladies’ College, she went on to pursue her passion for fine art, at the Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore in 2003, under a tuition grant received from the MOE (Ministry of Education), Government of Singapore. In 2007 she graduated from Lasalle, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, majoring in Painting (affiliated to The Open University of UK), after which she spent three additional years in Singapore working to complete a bond to work there under the tuition grant scheme. In 2011 Shaanea married Kevin D’Silva, an Indian national and a Marine Engineer by profession with Maersk Shipping Line, which then brought her to Mumbai, India. She now spends majority of her time sailing around the world with Kevin, which has given her the opportunity to re-discover new directions for her work, opening up new horizons quite literally. Torn between her traditional strokes in portraiture and fitting into contemporary art culture, her first solo exhibition in 2012, ‘Something Old, Something New’ Harold Pieris Gallery, Lionel Wendt, consisted of work that depicted a marriage of the two. A statement on different styles of art co-existing in the body of work of an emerging contemporary artist such as herself. “My work is about attention to detail. I like to think of them as abstract metaphors that speak through a meditative visual narrative. As a society of people we lack paying attention to detail, or the little things. But it is those little things that make up a bigger picture. The things that capture my interest even as a child were those details... through nature. The bark of a tree, the veins of a leaf, the aerial view of a landscape, a fingerprint. Each have their own intricacy. The miniscule marks that make up a vast scape are each an integral part of the final picture. Without each and every piece... it wouldn’t be complete. At the same time when we consider the universe and how small and insignificant we are in the greater scheme of things... Or are we?” Shaanea has group exhibited and sold several work in the past, both in Sri Lanka and Singapore.