Surrounded by his sons and grandchildren, iconic Teamaker, Disrupter and Servant Merrill J. Fernando passed away in Colombo yesterday.
The visionary founder of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company's greatness was in his invincible faith, integrity, and love for tea and family. With devotion and urgency, he pursued his desire for integrity and quality with humility and kindness.
His achievement in disrupting an exploitative colonial industry irrevocably changed the lives of producers worldwide, introducing a paradigm shift in ethical business before ethics and sustainable business acquired the prominence they have now.
His mission was simply for his passion to make lives better for other people. His humble, rural Sri Lankan beginnings and the Christian family values surrounding him defined his life. He devoted his life to tea, working every day until the age of 91 and maintained his passion for tea until the end of his life. He relentlessly fought against efforts to compromise or adulterate his beloved Ceylon Tea.
Merrill leaves behind two generations of his family who share his conviction. As he is called home to rest in the arms of his beloved Lord, his achievement is as much in inspiring his family to carry the torch of integrity and commitment to tea as it is in strengthening producers' dreams. His passion, devotion, commitment, love and kindness will forever inspire us to strive for the excellence he always demanded and never compromised.
Merrill will be remembered for his humanity and achievement in personally and passionately creating a global family behind the cause he pursued daily: Ceylon Tea with Taste, Goodness and Ethical Purpose.
