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Tea might be beloved of us Brits, but for 86-year-old Sri Lankan businessman Merrill Fernando, it can be used to change the world. He tells Abra Dunsby about Resplendent Ceylon’s latest developments.
As a young man, tea taster Merrill Fernando became a flag flier for ethical tea production. Now through his hotel business, Resplendent Ceylon, he champions ethical and responsible tourism too.
Over a breakfast of Sri Lankan dishes, Fernando explained what inspired him to launch Dilmah Tea: “Both the tea makers and the consumers were being exploited as customers were paying for the brand but not the quality of the commodity.”
Fernando changed the industry by creating the country’s first producer-owned brand, with the goal of making single origin tea and preventing multinationals from exploiting its producers and workers.
Following the success of Dilmah Tea, his sons Dilhan and Malik began running unofficial tea tours for tourists, during which visitors would stay in the tea planters’ bungalows. This sparked the birth of Tea Trails in 2005, a Resplendent Ceylon hotel offering perks such as butler service and complimentary local tours.
Speaking of his caring ethos, Fernando said: “My mother always told me to care for my neighbour and share with the poor.” It explains why he set up the MJF Foundation, which receives 10% of the profits from his tea business.
The charity has awarded more than 250 educational scholarships to tea-making families and has provided livelihood assistance to 1,000 families, with projects including working with the disabled and opening hospitals.
Resplendent Ceylon also contributes to the community through Dilmah Conservation, which promotes sustainability. Initiatives include partnering with the Wilderness & Wildlife Conservation Trust to create a leopard conservation station near the Dunkeld tea factory, which clients can visit as part of the Tea Trails tea experience.
Resplendent Ceylon’s commitment to “natural, local accommodation” will stretch further in the coming years, with Wild Coast Tented Lodge opening in Yala national park in October 2017.
The lodge will have 28 suites with panoramic jungle views. Clients can also enjoy wildlife experiences such as guided tours of the national park, plus lectures and workshops.
In 2018, the brand will open Sigiriya Resort in the Cultural Triangle, comprising 35 suites at treetop level set in a 14-acre forest and offering responsible elephant safaris.
Turns out the power of a cuppa shouldn’t be underestimated.
