Anura Gunasekera Archives

X’mas Gatherings: Thomian Cricket Legends and Dilmah Plantation Execs-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Dilmah Night of Plantation Veterans” .. …. in The Island, 24 December 2023… with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi Jayantha, Anura & Vernon Anura Gunasekera The elegant Dutch Burgher Union premises was the venue for the annual Planters’ Christmas Dinner, hosted by Dilmah, following a tradition set in place in 2017 by its patriarch, the late Merrill J Fernando. A man with a life-long passion for Pure Ceylon Tea, which contributed much to the success of Dilmah, the hosting of this gathering was his way of honouring the contribution to the industry made by the men, often convenientl Malik, the late Merrill’s eldest, graciously welcomed the guests. Whilst thanking all planters, past and present, for their contribution to the industry, he also spoke of the enduring association between Ceylon Tea, its plantations, and the hospitality industry, emphasizing that the ...

The Big Match By Anura Gunasekera Source:Thomiana Newsletter Obviously, I am writing about the Royal –Thomian as that was the first and, in my view- quite likely to be shared by many others of the Royal -Thomian tribethe only one which merits the title. I do not think it necessary to apologize to our many friends from other schools for this seemingly arrogant assumption. They would be sensible enough to understand accept reality. A couple of years ago I contributed a short article titled, “ A Hallowed Event”, to the Dilmah, History of Ceylon Tea website. The writing was built around a request for leave from Gamini Salgado, then a young SD ( Assistant manager) on Houpe Estate, Kahawatte, trying to obtain his release for the Royal-Thomian weekend. His British PD, Ian Tait, brusquely denied the request and Salgado missed the match for the first time in twelve years. The ...