Pressroom | The Sunday Times Empower Culinary & Hospitality School receives prestigious WorldChefs CertificationFebruary 28, 2017June 14, 2025The Empower Culinary & Hospitality School, Sri Lanka's premier culinary and hospitality facility was recently granted World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) recognition. WACS is a World Chefs body consisting of 10 million chefs and the Empower Culinary & Hospitality School is the only culinary training institute in Sri Lanka to hold this prestigious title. This facility provides new avenues for underprivileged and marginalised youth with empowerment through education in the gastronomy and hospitality industry of Sri Lanka. The school is an outcome of the philosophy of MJF Foundation Settlor Merrill J. Fernando that, business is a matter of human service. Founded on the principle that every individual has the ability to succeed and the right to that opportunity, the Empower Culinary & Hospitality School was established by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando to offer the underprivileged an opportunity to rise above their circumstances, the Dilmah Group said in a media release. The WACS recognition comes in the wake of the graduation of its inaugural batch. The announcement was made by WACS Education Director, John Clancy during the gala graduation night, held on February 7 at the Empower Culinary & Hospitality School in the presence of 140 School Of Tea participants who have flown down to Sri Lanka from different parts of the world. During the event, Mr. Clancy acknowledged that the school is an institute having a high standard of training and skills development to continue professional development. The citation recognises the development and delivery of the culinary training programme, to be on par with global standards. "When WorldChefs were invited to assess the programme, we were absolutely delighted and honoured to do so and we spent some time going through the programme. The learning material that is there is just absolutely top class. The facilities are just exceptional; right down to the whole learning environment, the facilities upstairs for students where they can study on computers. There's an array of cookery books. It's still building and I really do believe that it is going to be an amazing success story. The word, 'empower' says so much," he emphasised.
Pressroom Tea Lounge at the Edge-ReviewedFebruary 28, 2017June 14, 2025A take on tea we've never seen! Rating ???? Opening Times 8am - 8pm everyday Cuisine Tea specialties and snacks Food ???? Drinks ???? Halal No BYOB No Where Water's Edge Tea is an integral part of Sri Lankan tradition, heritage and pride and Dilmah has sought time and time again to innovate and reposition the true meaning of tea within the borders of Sri Lanka. Tea Lounge at the Edge is Dilmah's latest venture, joining hands with Water's Edge to bring us a line of specialty teas and goodies that are simply put, irresistible. Tea Lounge at the Edge is the only outlet serving Dilmah's "Exceptional Tea" range and the only place that serves up tea cocktails by Dilmah, so we were pretty pumped. Their menus come displayed on Samsung tabs (which is so high-tech) and their food descriptions are so particular that they'll tell you the number of ice cubes going into your drink! Another great thing is that when you choose your food items, the staff recommends a tea pairing that will go well with the dish - just like a great wine pairing! Drinks: Gentle Minty Green Iced Tea- Rs. 550, Rose with French Vanilla Syrup- Rs. 550, Queen of T cocktail- Rs. 1,250, Earl Meets Jack cocktail- Rs. 1,000, Earl Grey Tea Shake- Rs. 390, Cardamom KITSCH- Rs. 550 There was such a large variety of drinks to choose from - iced teas, shakes, hot teas, and cocktails! the options were endless! So we decided to dip our hands into each category. We kicked off our culinary adventure with the iced teas, both of which were very subtle but thoroughly enjoyable. The Mint iced tea was a mixture of Mint Green tea, green tea syrup, sugar syrup and lime. This one was really light on the palette and reminded us a little of Nelli drinks. It was a large glass though and it was very refreshing on a regular Lankan day. Rose with French Vanilla Syrup was a pleasing combination of tea, vanilla syrup, and sugar syrup. It came garnished with strawberries and was presented quite beautifully. The vanilla syrup really comes through in the drink with the rose flavors being much more subtle. The great thing though, was that you could still distinctly taste the tea flavor in both iced teas and we loved that. We were really excited about the tea cocktails on the menu and couldn't wait to get our hands on some. Upon recommendation, we tried the Queen of T which was a blend of cognac, baileys, Italian almond tea and sugar syrup. It looked beautiful and creamy and came garnished with nutmeg. The drink itself was very smooth, and though you could taste the almond tea in the concoction. There was also the undertone of alcohol that you could still taste. The flavors blended quite well together and this was a definite favorite from the whole day.
DailyFT | Pressroom President inaugurates Dilmah Conservation One Earth, Sri Lanka's first urban arboretumFebruary 23, 2017June 14, 2025President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday inaugurated Dilmah Conservation's One Earth Arboretum. In the capacity of Minister for the Environment, President Sirisena has been a strong advocate of environmental protection. He was joined by Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando, who shares the same commitment to environmental stewardship, in declaring open the unique and far reaching project.
Other | Pressroom Friday talks to Dilmah's founder Merrill FernandoFebruary 20, 2017June 14, 2025For Merrill J Fernando, founder of tea company Dilmah, age is just a number. This 86-year-old is still growing, innovating and fighting pessimism, he tells Mrinal Shekar. Merrill J Fernando is tall - towering in fact. I had expected the 86-year-old to be stooping, frail even, but when I walked into Dilmah's recently launched tea lounge in Ibn Battuta Mall and saw Merrill unfold his 1.8m (5ft 11in( frame out of the sofa, coming to stand absolutely upright in front of me, I suddenly felt short, and all the more small for my assumption. The handshake was firm, the gait sharp and there was no visible slouch - a stalwart who looks the part. He even has a full head of hair, I note as Merrill takes his seat after ensuring I was comfortable. 'It's Ceylon Supreme, a black tea from Craighead Estate. One of my favourites,' he says as he catches me staring at the steaming cup in front of him. Is that the secret to his youthful appearance, I ask, before assumption raises its ugly head again. 'That and the fact that my mother raised me well. She taught me to care for the community and share with the poor.
I firmly believe there is a certain joy in giving and that pure joy, I think, is the secret to my health,' explains Merrill. But you cannot ignore the fact that this philanthropist helms a tea company that has an annual turnover of $800 million (Dh2.9 billion(, which proves that he is a successful businessman too.
Other | Pressroom Dilmah dazzles in third year at Art Deco FestivalFebruary 20, 2017June 14, 2025Under a picturesque marquee, people sipped on tea cocktails, and indulged in macaroons to celebrate the third year of Dilmah tea at the Tremains Art Deco Festival. Since 2015 Dilmah founder Merrill J. Fernando has been returning to Napier for the festival, to engage with the public and share the ethical mission of his product. The festival's international ambassador said while he had never heard of Art Deco before initially being invited, Mr Fernando said he now "enjoyed this event very much". "They are getting more and more people here. I'm amazed at the way people treat me and talk to me, they treat me as a long-lost friend," the Sri Lankan native said. In previous years, Mr Fernando has been joined in Napier by his son Dilhan and Malik - the renowned tea brand was named using the first syllables of their names.
Pressroom | The Sunday Times Keep a date and take a green breakFebruary 13, 2017June 14, 2025As the noon sun beats down mercilessly on the men, women and children hurrying about in the asphalt jungle that is Katubedda, Moratuwa, on the outskirts of Colombo, there is an oasis of greenery exuding an aura of serenity and comfort.
Other | Pressroom Tea Lounge at The EdgeFebruary 13, 2017June 14, 2025The newest addition to Waters Edge, the 'Tea Lounge at the Edge' embraces the Dilmah Tea revolution in offering the finest Ceylon tea to the tea connoisseur of Sri Lanka. The beautifully designed and tastefully decorated lounge is the ideal place to hang out, relax and have a snack.
Other | Pressroom Top Sri Lankan tea brand eyes GCC expansionFebruary 6, 2017June 14, 2025Dilmah, one of the top 10 tea brands in the world, is now eyeing expansion across the GCC region with its new lounge concept, according to a senior official at the company.
Other | Pressroom New luxury tea lounge opens in DubaiJanuary 26, 2017June 14, 2025Sri Lankan tea brand Dilmah has opened a new tea lounge in Dubai’s Ibn Battuta Mall as part of plans to expand in the Middle East market.Located in the mall’s Egypt Court, the venue – called t-Lounge – is the brand’s first in the UAE. Currently Dilmah runs two t-lounges in Kuwait, with a third under construction, and also has outlets in Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia.
Other | Pressroom t-Lounge By Dilmah Opens in Dubai!!!!January 26, 2017June 14, 2025Tea pioneer presents tea with style at the first Dilmah t-lounge in Dubai , the t-lounge offers artisanal teas served hot, chilled, sparkling or pulled & paired with crepes, ice creams & more.
Other | Pressroom Tea pioneer presents tea with styleat the first Dilmah t-lounge in DubaiJanuary 26, 2017June 14, 2025Located within the Egypt Court at the Ibn Battuta Mall, the t-lounge will offer artisanal teas served hot, chilled, sparkling or pulled & paired with crepes, ice creams & more.
Other | Pressroom MERRILL J. FERNANDO, DILMAH TEA – A SRI LANKAN TEA HEROOctober 4, 2016June 14, 2025He is the founder of one of the 10th largest specialty tea brands in the world and hotelier with several resorts and growing, the epitome of a man born to wealth and privilege, with all the advantages and connections. No, the story of Merril J. Fernando is not about a man born into wealth, privilege or connections, but the story of a man with a dream, good motives, a love of tea and his country, and the intense passion to share the wealth with his workers and countrymen.
