Thijs & Cathrien Kramer Joure

First of all, I would like to thank you very much indeed for the kind invitation to join the festivitiesearly May on the occasion of Merrill’s 90th birthday.

Much to my regret, however, I will not be able to come to Sri Lanka to celebrate this special event with all of you.

Unbelievable... 90 years and still going strong. I consider it as a great privilege to know Merrill for so many years already.

Merrill is indeed an icon in the world of tea, demonstrating to all of us that tea is a career and not just a stepping stone towards short term goals.

I still remember the tastings, the visits to the gardens and factories, the official openingceremony of the new tea blending equipment in
Colombo 1996, our cooperation in teabag packing and so on. But above all, our relationship has gone far beyond pure business and our meetings have always been like a tasteful cup of tea.

Please convey our best wishes to Merrill, Dilhan and Malik and their family and to all at Dilmah and MJF Group

an icon in the world of tea, demonstrating to all of us that tea is a career and not just a stepping stone towards short term goals.