Over a Cuppa

In this Over a Cuppa podcast, father and son sit down to talk about the farmer, the trader, and the inception of Dilmah Tea. Listen as Mr. Dilmah, Merrill J. Fernando, tells the world why he started it all, how he realised his dreams, and how his passion drove him to change the world of tea and uplift the lives of the farmers, in conversation with his son, Dilhan C. Fernando.

You’re listening to Over a Cuppa with The World’s Most Experienced Teamaker – Part 1

Studies have found that theanine and polyphenols found in tea can boost your immunity, while antioxidants in tea can help fight non-communicable diseases. Episode 02 from our Story Behind Your Cup of Tea webinar series, Tea Grower and Dilmah CEO, Dilhan C. Fernando and Dr. Tissa Amarakoon; author of Tea & Your Health, former Deputy Director Research at the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka and currently Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya discuss the goodness in your cuppa!

The story of the murder of George Pope, the tough and strict disciplinarian Superintendent of Stellenberg Group, Uda Pussellawa. Pope, who had earlier threateningly vetoed the estate labourers’ request to form a union on Stellenberg, was subsequently murdered by six labourers, led by the aspiring union leader Ramasamy Weeraswamy.

Tale of the ill-fated robbery by the feared underworld figure of the day, “Laathara Baas” and his gang, which resulted in the death of Bruce Whitehouse, Superintendent of Madampe Group, Rakwana in the Ratnapura district.

What is the connection between environment and faith and belief? Using faith and belief as an indirect tool for conservation, Professor Jayantha Wattavidanage explains it all. He is a popular media personality and a leading conservation biologist in Sri Lanka.

Explore the importance of understanding the intricate balance between development and conservation. Dr. Kudavidanage is a senior lecturer in Ecology and Conservation Biology at the Department of Natural Resources, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Who in her career, has worked with various governmental and non-governmental organizations research institutes, scientific bodies and NGOs to bridge the gap between the scientists, decision makers and the community.

Sunela Jayewardene is a power house with multiple strengths and talents. She is probably best known as Sri Lanka’s Leading Environmental Architect. Today, we are lucky to have her with us in the studio to discover the green mind behind the green designs.

Do women have a slight edge and a natural calling to be a nurturer of nature? To explore this further, we have two ladies with a passion for conservation; Sunela Jayewardene - Sri Lanka’s leading environmental architect, and Dr. Kudavidanage - an academic, currently lecturing at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Mother-daughter duo Savera and Sunela share intergenerational perspectives and stories on the importance of collaboration; when building a community of informed and empowered women of all ages with a curiosity for knowledge, a passion for change and an understanding of the natural environment.

Savera Weerasinghe the dynamic co-founder of Ananta Sustainables, is an absolute powerhouse and an advocate of change. Listen as she sheds light on how our current consumption model and waste management methods are setting us up for failure, and what structural and systemic shifts we need, to render disposable packaging obsolete.