CBSL governor’s assurance on debt restructuring lifts stocks; turnover tops Rs. 4 billion – islands

Dilhan C. Fernando
Dilmah Tea CEO

Damon Kitney wrote in The Australian last week, and the headlines covered a conversation I had with him a few days ago, and my comment was “We’d rather leave than compromise.” Story What followed was a combination of outrage, protest, criticism, distortion and support; all of which required explanation. This question is important to all of us, but also complex, so please excuse the lengthy explanation.

My father was a man of vision; meanwhile, his bulk tea export business, hailed by a House committee as one of the most profitable tea businesses ever owned by a Ceylonian, had his sights set further—realizing that the bulk tea Export of tea (as raw material) is not the future.

He devoted his whole life to tea and relentlessly pursued his dream of creating his own tea brand. Along the way, he encountered unexpected rejections from overseas loose tea customers, resentful of natives from the colonies trying to usurp their role in our tea branding and packaging. He was less optimistic back home, as major loose tea exporters in the tea trade worried that his efforts to brand and add value to Ceylon tea might piss off their customers too.

Thirty-five years and a thousand challenges later, Dilmah was born. My dad was 55 years old, a start-up, a disruptor and a passionate Sri Lankan Teaman. The first packet of Dilmah Pure Ceylon Tea, grown at source, ethically harvested, perfected and packaged, shipped direct to Australia, proceeds from sales benefit the Sri Lankan economy and share profits with my dad’s small ‘household’ workers and the less fortunate in the wider community .

While every child loves the story of farmers taking their produce to market, this is the first time a tea farmer has brought his tea directly to customers. The coffee or cocoa (chocolate) industry is no exception. Father cuts out the middleman, his profit evolves into greed and multi-source mixing to keep costs down, which is a real fair trade; since packaging, branding and added value take a bigger share of the revenue of any product, especially agricultural products, So a fairer share of her farm income now benefits the economy of Sri Lanka, a wealthy country crushed by colonialism and the exploitation of wealth by foreign traders in tea, spices and rubber.

My dad was a visionary and a destroyer. The launch of the world’s first grower-owned tea brand opened the way for millions of growers around the world to escape the colonial economic system and its successors – multinational corporations and traders – imposed on them shackles. As my father constantly protested, merchants succeed by buying low and selling high – so the cheaper the better, taste, quality and the interests of the consumer are the least of their priorities. This is extrinsic activism, the exploitation of a nation’s natural resources for the benefit of others with minimal added value.

The tea industry is going through worse things as it is a mix of foreignism and greed – not content to buy tea in bulk to take advantage of the quality and reputation of Ceylon Tea, trading brands – some even today some of the world’s most Well-Known – Blend teas from different sources to keep costs down. This robs tea drinkers of the authenticity, taste, antioxidant properties, and assurance of authentic tea. This is no less exploitative of consumers and producers than colonialism, despite often being whitewashed with signs of goodness, fair trade, etc.

My father witnessed the start of the horrific exploitation of our precious and beloved Ceylon tea. It strengthened his commitment to a dream that many told him was impossible. Thus, the first packet of Dilmah Tea carried the Teamaker’s dream, the aspirations of millions of workers and the future of a sustainable and independent Sri Lanka in its teal packaging.

At the time my dad never anticipated the race to the bottom that would ensue, initially in the guise of delivering value to consumers after the 2008 global financial crisis. Later, as retailers relied more on short-term tactics to boost profits, a discounting culture developed to support the mirage of low prices. Ironically, the popularity of tea has fueled the race, as multinational corporations seek to enter the tea category and vie for dominance as tea and its plant-based virtues come under the spotlight.

It is a tragedy as businesses built on the passion and commitment of family or owner-operators are acquired and become part of the portfolio offered by companies more interested in profit and dominance than taste and Kind. The shift marks a shift in focus, from a passion for premium tea to profit. The ensuing commoditization reverberates today as these companies abandon the discounted, bankrupt tea brands that they squeezed profits from.

What all of this is doing to tea, an affordable luxury, where the difference between a cup of good tea and bad tea is pennies, for tea drinkers, brands, workers, the environment and Sri Lanka disastrous. Ellen Ruppel Shell explained,

“If enough dishonest merchants water down their milk, more and more customers will forget the taste of regular milk and will just buy the cheaper – diluted – variety.” The short-lived allure of low prices and The commodification of tea has changed the perception of the natural herb for its rich variety, taste, luxury and health. Too many tea drinkers forget the richness, variety, and taste of good tea, too many lack the knowledge to brew it properly, and too few benefit from the stress-stress, immune-boosting, and many other health benefits of good tea. The promotion of low prices as a benefit has lured consumers into a horrific deception so persuasive that even producers and exporters in tea-growing countries have calmed down and complied.

Every individual and every business has a responsibility to participate in addressing the massive health, economic, social and environmental crises that are weighing on our heads. Producers from around the world have special potential here, and each has a greater responsibility than ever before; growers are stewards of the land and rural people, and their sustainability and growth are critical to the success of our nation important. Taste matters, health matters, but it’s not just about both, because we are on the front lines of climate action, at the vanguard of fighting social inequalities, our actions in education, gender equality, innovation, food safety, clean air The importance of watersheds, the protection of watersheds and water quality, along with many other critical aspects of life on Earth in the wake of the pandemic, emerged as humanity’s next greatest challenge.

Every individual and every business has a responsibility to participate in addressing the massive health, economic, social and environmental crises that are weighing on our heads. Producers from around the world have special potential here, and each has a greater responsibility than ever before; growers are stewards of the land and rural people, and their sustainability and growth are critical to the success of our nation important.

Decisions made by growers – whether to use regenerative methods to ensure soil fertility, sustainability and climate resilience, our role in strengthening rural economies through innovation, productivity and opportunity to stem unsustainable cities and international migration, our The responsibility to protect watersheds to adapt to a changing climate, the responsibility we have to working families to not only perpetuate traditions but educate their children and revitalize communities sustainably – all cost money. They can only be implemented if our efforts earn a fair price and recognize the passion of most growers for quality.

Institutions with vested interests, philanthropic charities and activists of all kinds point the finger at growers whose images are bolstered by images of poor people, malnourished children and broken roofs, forgetting that every stick out One finger, three fingers would be pointed at the plaintiffs; daily low prices, Black Friday, White Monday and other record-breaking retail events are built on worker and environmental support, and the “savings” consumers love are being Reduced opportunities for workers and their families compensate for, and often force, environmental degradation.

Giving growers access to high-quality, safe, tasty and healthy food, while sustainable agriculture ensures the survival of humanity and makes the planet fit for unborn generations. It’s simple, start by paying a fair price for a quality product to the producer and a truly ethical brand.

We love tea and we want to share the taste and benefits of fine tea, but we also believe that Ceylon tea plays a vital role in a rejuvenated Sri Lanka while providing joy, health and serenity to our customers. As producers, we are passionate about making teas that celebrate the art of tea making, which can only be achieved in harmony with nature. We want to share with our customers the enjoyment of a plant-based natural herbal health drink with a wide variety that brings pleasure and protects health. Our goals are not revolutionary, but obvious; to enable growers to have access to high-quality, safe, tasty and healthy food, while sustainable agriculture ensures the survival of humanity and makes the planet fit for generations to come. It’s simple, it starts with paying a fair price for a quality product to the producer and a truly ethical brand.

We are a family business founded on family values ​​framed by our faith in God. These values ​​are evidenced by the commitment of three generations of my family and laid the foundation by my father’s lifelong love of tea. Our success, our beliefs and values ​​are unconventional, shaped beyond profit, requiring integrity and influence. The realization of this idea is reflected in the lives of the less fortunate we can touch when we share profits, in restoring ecosystems, protecting nature and enhancing ecosystem services.

That’s why we can never compromise.