Business
Putting SL’s culinary talent together for the ‘Oympics of Gastronomy’
Sri Lanka’s rising ambition to position itself as a global culinary and tourism hub received a resounding boost this week with the upcoming Bocuse d’Or Sri Lanka finals, slated for July 27, 2025. With participation from 48 of the island’s most talented chefs, the competition is more than a showcase of skill—it is a platform to transform Sri Lanka’s global image through food, tourism, and innovation.
Bocuse d’Or, dubbed the “Olympics of Gastronomy,” is regarded globally as the pinnacle of culinary competition. For Sri Lanka, this isn’t just about medals—it’s about elevating local talent, ingredients, and culture onto the world stage. The winners of the national finals will represent the island at the Asia-Pacific regionals in 2026, with a coveted pathway to the global grand final in Lyon, France in 2027.
“This competition is not just about chefs, said Chef Rohan Fernandopulle, president of Bocuse d’Or Sri Lanka. “It’s about putting our country on the plate.”
According to Chef Alan Palmer, event coordinator and a long-standing mentor in the Sri Lankan culinary circuit, Bocuse d’Or is an unmatched opportunity.
“This is the seventh time we’re conducting the national selection. We’ve had the honour of sending Sri Lankan chefs to Lyon twice already. This is about identifying and nurturing talent that can compete with the best in the world.”
He emphasised the event’s integrity and structure. “The same standards, ingredients, and timing used in Lyon are being followed here. Four international judges, icons in the culinary world, and four local judges will ensure fairness and excellence. It’s world-class in every sense.”
Adding diplomatic weight to the occasion, French ambassador to Sri Lanka, Remi Lambert, described the competition as a vital channel to promote Sri Lanka’s soft power.
“Bocuse d’Or is more than a contest—it’s a cultural ambassador. In France, cuisine is a living heritage passed from generation to generation. Sri Lanka has that same richness. The world wants to taste your story.”
He likened Lyon, the final host city, to a perfect plate—”a convergence of rivers, regions, and cultures”—and encouraged Sri Lankan chefs to “transmit the story of your mountains, plains, lakes, and spices through your food.”
Lambert also stressed the values embedded in the competition—authenticity, sustainability, and storytelling.
“Paul Bocuse believed in raising people up—young talent, sustainable techniques, respect for ingredients. These are values that matter today more than ever and Sri Lanka is well-positioned to express them.”
As principal sponsor, Dilmah Ceylon Tea is using the platform to advocate for pride in local ingredients. Speaking on behalf of the company, Suren Athukorale, Head of International Food Service, called on chefs to elevate what is authentically Sri Lankan.
“You are the storytellers of our heritage. You take ingredients and turn them into emotion,” he said. “And what ingredient is more deeply Sri Lankan than tea?”
Athukorale recalled how in 2006, the prestigious Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon dedicated an entire tea room to understanding Ceylon Tea—a move initiated by Dilmah.
“Now we ask our chefs to go further—not just to cook with tea and cinnamon, but to celebrate them. Let’s remind the world that our ingredients are not commodities. They are culture.”
Bernie Stefan, Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka, echoed a similar sentiment of national development through food. Nestlé, through its Professional division, is a key partner of the event.
“This competition aligns perfectly with three of Nestlé’s core values, he said. “Developing young talent, supporting local culinary expertise and proudly showcasing Sri Lankan cuisine.”
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) chairman Bhuddhika Hewawasam described Bocuse d’Or as part of a national movement toward culinary tourism.
“For too long, we’ve been known for putting our country on the plate for the wrong reasons. Now, for once, chefs are doing it for the right ones, he said. “Sri Lanka’s food diversity—whether Jaffna crab curry or southern ambul thiyal—is a goldmine for tourism.”
He emphasized that attracting tourists is not only about numbers, but about value.
“If we develop local talent and retain them in the industry, we don’t just build better hotels—we retain wealth. We create a tourism economy where local chefs earn global respect.”
Hewawasam also highlighted the participation of female chefs in this year’s contest as a welcome step toward gender balance in hospitality and tourism.
As the clock ticks toward July 27, all eyes are on the stoves at William Angliss Institute, Malabe, where the national final will unfold and the awards ceremony will be held at Cinnamon Life.
By Ifham Nizam
At its 2026 Social Sustainability Programme Kick-Off, the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka convened business leaders to advance the translation of global ambition into practical corporate action on inclusion, integrity and human rights.
On 24 February 2026, the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka (Network Sri Lanka) convened business leaders at Barefoot Garden Café for its 2026 Social Sustainability Programme Kick-Off, delivered in collaboration with Good Life X.
The gathering did more than introduce a calendar of events. It positioned Sri Lanka’s corporate community within the broader direction of the UN Global Compact’s 2026–2030 global strategy — a strategy anchored in three imperatives: equipping companies to act, catalyzing collective action, and advancing the business case for responsible leadership.
At its core, the 2026 Social Sustainability agenda is designed to move companies from commitment to capability.
Within the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, this means building practical pathways toward equal pay for equal work and strengthening male allyship as a governance issue rather than a cultural afterthought. It means examining sexual and reproductive health, disability inclusion, and mental health not as employee benefits, but as structural determinants of productivity and retention. It means sharpening strategic communications so inclusion is embedded in brand integrity. It also means applying science-based behavioural change approaches to shift organizational culture in measurable ways.
Across the Business & Human Rights Working Group, equipping companies takes the form of deepened engagement on decent work and living wage implementation, strengthening human rights due diligence processes, and addressing emerging risk areas such as AI and digital rights. It extends to reinforcing business integrity and anti-corruption frameworks, understanding the social dimensions of a just transition, and recognizing the link between child rights, nutrition, and workforce productivity.
Union Bank of Colombo PLC announced its proposed Debenture Issue 2026, a strategic move aimed at raising up to LKR 3 billion. This issue is designed to bolster the Bank’s Tier II capital base and provide a robust financial foundation for its upcoming growth initiatives.
The offering consists of Basel III compliant, listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable high-yield debentures with Non-Viability Conversion. The instrument has been assigned a rating of BB (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd, reflecting the bank’s creditworthiness and the structured nature of the subordinated debt.
Investors can choose from three distinct interest structures starting from a high-yield 13% fixed rate per annum (Type A). This option is paid annually, while Type B offers a 12.5% fixed rate paid semi-annually (12.89% AER). For those seeking market-linked returns, Type C provides a floating rate of the 182-days Treasury Bill rate plus a 400-basis point margin, also paid semi-annually.
The debentures are priced at LKR 100 per unit with a 5-year tenure (2026–2031). The initial issue size is set at 20,000,000 debentures with an option to raise 10,000,000 at the discretion of the Bank and is scheduled to open on 10 March 2026.
Shanka Abeywardene, Chief Financial Officer of Union Bank stated “This debenture issue marks a significant step in the Bank’s journey towards enhanced financial stability. By strengthening its capital adequacy, Union Bank is well-positioned to navigate evolving market conditions while fuelling its long-term strategic objectives for sustainable growth”
WindForce PLC announced the appointment of Sanjay Kulatunga as an Independent, Non-Executive Director to its Board with effect from 03rd March 2026, following the resignation of Dilshan Hettiaratchi. The appointment further strengthens the Company’s governance framework, strategic oversight, and long-term decision-making capabilities.
Kulatunga brings an established track record as a founder, entrepreneur, and senior executive across financial services and export-oriented industries. He is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of LYNEAR Wealth Management, a boutique investment firm established in 2013, which has since grown to become one of Sri Lanka’s largest private wealth management institutions, serving high-net-worth individuals as well as local and international institutional clients.
Prior to founding LYNEAR, Kulatunga played a pivotal role in the establishment of Amba Research, an investment research offshoring firm rooted in Sri Lanka and now operating as part of Acuity Analytics.
Over the years, he has contributed extensively to several key national institutions. His previous appointments include serving on the Financial Sector Stability Consultative Committee of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, as well as the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka.
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