News & Events

Team Ranaviru Sevana secured a last wicket win over team Shakthi during the nail biting finals of the 6^th Dilmah Challenge Trophy National Blind Cricket Tournament held on August 19^th at the Wesley College Grounds. Both teams consisted of players of varied stages of visual imparity from partially sighted (B3), to partially blind (B2), to totally blind (B1).

Playing a remarkable first innings, team Shakthi obtained 215 runs in 27.3 overs with batsmen Saman Thushara (B2) scoring 78 runs while Damith Thushara (B1) contributed with 26 runs. Team Ranaviru displayed that its bowling attack is in fine form when the players Dimuthu Ravindra (B1) obtained 3/31 in 5.3 overs while Saman Kumara (B1) got 2/35 in 5 overs.

Chasing the final target, Ranaviru players K.A Silva (B1) obtained an extraordinary half century, while Sahan Kumara (B1) scored 34 runs and N.S Malcum (B2) 18 runs to obtain 216 for 9 wickets in 31.5 overs. The inning played by the last pair of the team Ranaviru was commended by the spectators as their outstanding partnership navigated their side to the match victory. Meanwhile the Shakthi player Upul Sanjeewana (B2) obtained a successful 3 wickets for 26 runs in 7 overs. The players Dineeth Ravindra (B1) was adjudged the 'Man of the Finals.'

Players Chandana Kumara (B3 ) from Shihashakthi who obtained 391 runs with two centuries and 1 wicket, Upul Sanjeewa (B2 ) from team Shakthi who obtained 157 runs and 8 wickets, and T D K Sahankumara (B1) of team Ranaviru who scored 122 runs including a century and 4 wickets were awarded the 'Man of the Tournament' trophies.

An event supported by Dilmah Since 2005, the National Blind Cricket Tournament is a celebration of the capabilities and the sportsmanship of the visually impaired spread across the country through the game of cricket. The tournament gives all teams registered with the Sri Lanka Cricket Association of the Visually Handicapped an opportunity to participate in a national level cricket tournament to showcase their talents. Subsequently, the best players are selected for the National Blind Cricket Team to represent at the Blind Cricket World Cup. This year's tournament had 180 players taking part in 29 matches played over a period of 60 days in Colombo and Moneragala.

National Blind Cricket Tournament is a cause close to the heart of Dilmah Founder, Merrill J. Fernando, who established the MJF Charitable Foundation to fulfill his commitment to 'make business a matter of human service.'

"The growth of the cricket for the visually impaired in Sri Lanka is an encouragement for the blind to reach their full potential. National Blind Cricket Tournament is a manifestation of their strengths. It is everyone's responsibility to help them develop their talents. Sri Lanka is known as the Cricket country and the Dilmah country, and I hope that the visually impaired cricketers would gain due recognition through the event," says Dilmah Founder, Merrill J. Fernando.

Supporting the National Blind Cricket Tournament apart, the MJF Charitable Foundation has, throughout the years, assisted the visually impaired through various initiatives such as the annual AIDEX sports meet that rewards the talents of the differently-abled community in Sri Lanka and the Knowledge Chest initiative which voice records publications to ensure visually impaired have access to vital publications without having to bear the high cost of Braille books. The MJF Charitable Foundation is also working closely with the School for the Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana and Subhagya Vidyalaya - the School for the Hearing and Visual Impaired in Monaragala.

About Dilmah

Sri Lankan family tea company Dilmah, founded by Merrill J. Fernando, today the world's most experienced teamaker, has championed quality, authenticity and variety in tea. Dilmah pioneered the concept of Single Origin Tea in 1988 when the family company went against industry trends to declare its commitment to authenticity. Garden fresh, unblended tea is a hallmark of Dilmah and offers a unique taste of unblended Ceylon tea packed at source - where it is grown.

Dilmah takes the lead in bringing innovation to a global tea category that has suffered decline as a result of commoditisation. Signature events such as the Chefs & the Teamaker and Real High Tea are innovations that seek to educate and inspire hospitality professionals to offer their guests a completely new tea experience. The events foster greater respect for this healthy, natural and versatile beverage.

The Dilmah School of Tea seeks to inspire passion in tea through knowledge of the artisanal aspects of tea amongst hospitality professionals, tea aficionados and consumers. The emphasis is on the importance of Real Tea and the versatility of this natural herb in Tea Gastronomy, food pairing and Tea Mixology. 

Dilmah is Ethical Tea, in that all packaging profits are retained in Sri Lanka and fund the work of the MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. We believe that Business is a Matter of Human Service.