Life style

Thambili : the king of all coconuts

Published

3 years ago

2023/09/17

By Zinara Rathnayake

“Those who know, know,” Sudath Fernando tells me, cutting a tender, young thambili at his makeshift kiosk on Galle Road in Colombo. Sudath has been selling thambili – often called ‘king coconuts’ in English – in Colombo since 1991. Some customers come to him as soon as he starts his business at six in the morning. “For them, it’s medicine. They have it daily before their morning tea,” he says.

Sudath is one of the many thambili vendors lining the streets of Colombo who pile up orange-coloured coconuts by the crowded highways and privy alleys. Food often represents one’s class and race in Sri Lanka. Long basmati rice, more expensive than other rice varieties, is cooked in wealthy households. My Sinhalese parents prepare abundant dishes of dry fish and my partner’s Tamil family roll out atta (wholemeal wheat flour) dough into chapatis for dinner. But thambili is neutral. It knows no class, race or religion. As the temperatures have risen in recent years, thambili vendors have sprouted up on the island streets. They often go unappreciated by the locals, but they are the true lifeline of the public on hot Sri Lankan afternoons.

Sri Lankan cuisine is dominated by the coconut. We cook chicken into a fiery red curry using coconut oil. We use coconut milk in the hopper batter, their fluffy meaty centres tapering off into a lacy crisp. We make sambal with scraped coconut and add grated coconut to our mallung, a uniquely Sri Lankan green leafy salad stir-fried in a dry skillet. Some Sri Lankans like to keep their sliced bitter gourd in coconut water until the bitterness dissipates, and in the morning we eat diya bath (leftover rice soaked overnight in water) with kiri hodi, a saute of onions and spices simmered in coconut milk; a hearty breakfast of humble rice meeting rich, creamy kiri hodi sprinkled with salt and lime juice.

But, nothing quite comes close to the joy of sipping a thambili. Slurp it once and you would know; it is truly the king of all coconuts. There were days I begged my mother for thambili. I followed my mother from room to room, and into the garden when she raked fallen leaves.

“Amma, when can I have thambili?”

Every week in the searing hot months, my mother would call the coconut plucker in our village. Bare-chested, his sarong folded into half above his knees, this forty-something man climbed the thambili tree in our garden. He plucked a few nuts which would last the whole week.

To me they were happiness encased in a giant nut. When prepared correctly they could quench thirsts that dried up my scaly lips? my mother would scrape the meat from inside the thambili and mix it with the rich coconut water, adding a tablespoonful of sugar before I gulped it down in the humid afternoons at home.

Coconut trees dot the landscape in Sri Lanka; swaying palms equally fringe the rugged coastline and silvery-silky beaches. But not all of them, or even most of them, are thambili. Thambili directly translates to orange (an apt name due to their bright orange husks, which mark them out as a native Sri Lankan variation from regular green coconuts) and they thrive within the stretching coconut triangle between the capital city, Colombo, and the towns of Kurunegala and Chilaw.

I spent my early childhood years in my mother’s village in Kurunegala falling within this luscious coconut triangle. When I was eight, we relocated to my father’s village near Kandy. Within the first month, my father had planted five coconut trees in our 15-perch garden ? two of them were king coconuts. On blazing hot afternoons, my father, using a blade tied to a long bamboo stick, would pluck thambili for me. It’s this fresh thambili water that puts an end to my afternoon sourpuss. On a steamy, tropical afternoon, there is nothing like thambili water to refresh and rejuvenate, even compared to regular coconut water. It is this quality that makes them the king of all coconuts.

King coconuts take anywhere between 8-14 months to fully mature. “Tender nuts are full of water,” Sudath tells me, noting that these small, tender coconuts have a lighter orange shade. When they grow older and larger in size, they acquire a darker shade of orange. “Older coconuts sell fast because of their sheer size and the attractive colour,” Sudath says, “But it’s the young, small ones that have more water. They are healthier,” he chuckles.

The local palate prefers everything sweet. It is another reason many customers pick large coconuts, as their water contains a distinctive saccharine taste. Oftentimes, Sudath advises his customers to choose a tender coconut. But they seldom listen to him. Sudath’s coconut business is the only income for his family. Dreading customer disapproval and losing his income, he sticks to piles of matured thambili and stocks only a few tender nuts for the connoisseurs, those who, in his words, ‘know’.

Our love for thambili stems from living every day in the year-long tropical climate. While I love walking, it is often a challenge in Sri Lanka. Walking merely a mile in Colombo is exerting. Sweat drips down your forehead after five minutes in the harsh sun. Your cotton shirt is soaked in sweat as if you accidentally passed by a quick rain shower. When we exert and sweat, we lose electrolytes, minerals such as potassium, sodium and magnesium, resulting in fatigue and dehydration. Thambili is packed with these electrolytes: it is nature’s Lucozade. So when we see piles of golden orange lining the pavements from a distance, we know that it is not just another coconut: in Sri Lanka, thambili is happiness.

Thambili is also more than a simple thirst-quencher; it has both culinary and wellness uses. Diwani Welitharage is a pharmacist by profession and explains to me how thambili water helps digestion and metabolism. “Drinking thambili water on an empty stomach early in the morning boosts your energy,” she tells me over the phone. Thambili is not only rich in vitamins but has been credited with everything from anti-aging properties to treating urinary tract infections in Ayurvedic medicine. “Some people drink it with sandalwood powder to help nourish their skin,” Diwani explains.

In her spare time, Diwani loves to study traditional Sri Lankan cuisine and experiments with thambili water, often combining it with lime, rambutan and chia seeds, or cooking baby jackfruit and marshy herbs directly in the water, the acidity softening the starch. But “for health benefits,” Diwani says, “just drink it as it is.”

Given its myriad properties, it’s no surprise that there is now a lot of money to be made from thambili. Thambili water is now packaged and exported globally; famous exporters like Eliya, based in New York, supply it across the globe to the Fairmont chain’s hotels in Dubai and Taj group hotels in New York, promising a taste of “the paradise island” for $60 for a 12-pack. This humble coconut now features in cocktails and trendy drinks in bars, high-end hotels and chic cafés in both Sri Lanka and abroad. A luxe beach resort in Sri Lanka once welcomed me with a chilled thambili mixed with Sri Lankan arrack (a local alcohol made from the fermented sap of coconut flowers) and lime juice. In the scorching heat, I couldn’t have asked for a better welcome drink.

Apinash Sivagumaaran, CEO at the popular Isso restaurants in Colombo and the Maldives, tells me that thambili is a popular item on their drink menus. Apinash and his team studied the market and customer preferences before they opened their first restaurant in 2017. He wanted to incorporate bits and pieces of Sri Lankan coconut culture at Isso in a more luxurious way. Instead of extracting the water into a glass, the giant nut comes to your table, refrigerated and chilled, in homage to the surrounding crowded streets hemmed in with piles of thambili. “It is much more personal,” Apinash says.

None of this, however, really captures the experience of buying thambili from a roadside vendor. A quick thambili stopover on the streets in Sri Lanka often turns into friendly banter with fellow customers and vendors. I fear the water dripping down my clothes, so I would use a straw to sip my thambili. But others, like my father, would keep his mouth pressed to the nut, and gulp it down without a straw. It’s a skill to master.

When Sri Lanka went on a strict, police-managed curfew to control the spread of COVID-19, roadside thambili vendors like Sudath belong to the country’s ‘informal sector’, which contributes to about 40% of the nation’s GDP, took a heavy blow. During the pandemic, thambili sellers, street food vendors and porters have been the worst hit among all of us. People like Sudath, who stand long hours in the sun to quench our thirst, are also the least supported by the government or the authorities.

Sudath tells me that the initial days in the lockdown were very hard. He tried his best to obtain a permit. After a couple of weeks, having contacted a police officer he knew, his permit arrived. He hired a truck, wore a mask and went door to door selling thambili. Business was slow. “I was scared too. I am 50 now and I was scared of bringing the virus home,” he tells me. “But without the business, my family would go hungry.” BBC

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Life style

The last kings of the wilderness: vanishing tuskers

Published

6 days ago

2026/05/24

Thilina Walpola

In the vast dry-zone wilderness of Sri Lanka, where ancient reservoirs mirror crimson sunsets and monsoon winds whisper through forests untouched for centuries, there still roams a giant who has become both legend and symbol.

His name is Mahasen — perhaps the most celebrated wild tusker Sri Lanka has ever known.

To wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, researchers, and villagers across the North Central Province, Mahasen is not merely an elephant. He is the living embodiment of Sri Lanka’s ancient wilderness, a reminder of a time when giant tuskers ruled the forests that surrounded the island’s great hydraulic civilisation.

Secretary and Chief Coordinator of Wild Tuskers of Sri Lanka, Chandika Lakmal, describes Mahasen as “one of the greatest living treasures of Sri Lanka’s natural heritage.”

“When people see Mahasen, they are not simply looking at a wild elephant,” he said.

“They are witnessing history, culture, ecology, and wilderness all combined into one magnificent animal. Tuskers like Mahasen are extremely rare, and losing such an elephant would mean losing a part of Sri Lanka’s identity itself.”

Sri Lanka has long shared a sacred bond with elephants. Ancient kings regarded tuskers as symbols of sovereignty and divine authority.

From the kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa to the Kandyan era, elephants marched beside rulers during ceremonies and wars alike. Within Buddhist culture, elephants became revered symbols of strength, wisdom, and spiritual purity.

Yet among all elephants, the tusker has always occupied a special place.

Unlike African elephants, only a very small percentage of male Asian elephants develop tusks. This makes Sri Lankan tuskers exceptionally rare. Over centuries, they became deeply embedded in folklore, temple art, and village legends.

Mahasen stands today as perhaps the finest surviving example of that ancient legacy.

Mahasen, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic wild tuskers, photographed during his majestic prime in 2014 and in 2025 as the ageing giant continues his struggle for survival in the island’s shrinking wilderness

The legendary tusker was first photographed in 2002 by renowned wildlife photographer Vajira Wijegunawardena. During those early years, wildlife enthusiasts referred to him as the “Somawathiya Tusker” because he was frequently sighted around the floodplains near Somawathiya before travelling towards Minneriya and Kaudulla during the season of the great elephant gathering.

Later, the giant elephant was named Mahasen in honour of the ancient King Mahasen, the visionary ruler who built the magnificent Minneriya Tank. The name reflected not only strength and majesty, but also a deep connection to the same historic landscape shaped by kings, forests, and elephants thousands of years ago.

Today, Mahasen is believed to be around 60 years old, making him one of the oldest surviving wild tuskers in Sri Lanka. Towering above most elephants, he possesses perhaps the largest pair of tusks ever documented among Sri Lanka’s wild elephants, stretching beyond six feet in length.

For decades, Mahasen became one of the greatest attractions of the famous elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park and Kaudulla National Park — one of the largest congregations of Asian elephants anywhere in the world.

Photographers from across the globe waited patiently for hours hoping to capture the old king emerging from the dusty grasslands, at dusk, his enormous tusks glowing beneath the golden evening light. For many wildlife lovers, witnessing Mahasen in the wild became an unforgettable experience.

“Mahasen carries an extraordinary presence,” Chandika Lakmal explained. “Even among large elephants, he stands apart. There is a certain calmness, confidence, and dignity in the way he moves. You immediately understand why ancient people considered tuskers sacred.”

Yet beyond his beauty and fame, Mahasen also represents the fragile future of Sri Lanka’s elephants.

Modern conservation science identifies elephants as “keystone species” and “umbrella species,” meaning their survival protects entire ecosystems. Elephants create pathways through forests, disperse seeds, maintain grasslands, and help sustain biodiversity across vast landscapes.

“Elephants are ecosystem engineers,” Chandika Lakmal said. “The forest itself depends on them. Without elephants, the structure of these ecosystems begins to change. Protecting tuskers, like Mahasen, means protecting entire habitats and countless other species.”

Sadly, Sri Lanka’s wild elephants now face mounting threats.

Habitat fragmentation, shrinking forests, electric fences, roads, railway accidents, illegal shootings, and human-elephant conflict continue to endanger their survival.

Nearly 60 percent of Sri Lanka’s wild elephants live outside protected national parks, surviving within fragmented forests and ancient tank ecosystems increasingly surrounded by human settlements.

Traditional elephant migration corridors that existed for centuries have now been blocked by agriculture and development projects. As elephants lose access to food and water, they are increasingly forced into villages and farmlands, creating dangerous encounters between humans and wildlife.

Even Mahasen has not escaped these pressures.

In recent years, the ageing tusker’s movements have become increasingly restricted. Wildlife observers believe the enormous weight of his tusks, combined with old age, has forced him into smaller forest patches between Kakirawa and Maradankadawala where food and water are available within shorter distances.

Several months ago, Mahasen was discovered with a serious wound on his back believed to have been caused either by a gunshot injury or a clash with another elephant. Wildlife officials intervened quickly and treated the giant tusker, offering hope that he would recover once again.

However, concern continues to grow among conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts as sightings of Mahasen have become increasingly rare in recent months.

For many Sri Lankans, the thought of losing Mahasen is deeply emotional.

“Mahasen is not just another elephant,” Chandika Lakmal said quietly. “He is one of the last living symbols of Sri Lanka’s ancient wilderness. Future generations deserve the chance to see such animals alive in our forests, not only in photographs or history books.”

Despite his immense ecological and cultural importance, many villagers living near elephant habitats still struggle with fear and economic hardship caused by crop raids and property damage.

Conservationists stress that long-term coexistence can only be achieved through proper land-use planning, protection of elephant corridors, community awareness, and sustainable conservation policies.

Across the forests of Yala National Park, Wilpattu National Park, Gal Oya National Park, and Wasgamuwa National Park, Sri Lanka’s remaining tuskers continue their silent struggle against an uncertain future.

But among them all, Mahasen remains special.

He is more than an old tusker wandering through fading forests.

He is the last king of a vanishing wilderness.

And as long as Mahasen still walks beneath the ancient trees of Sri Lanka’s dry zone, the spirit of the island’s wild heritage continues to survive majestic, untamed, and unforgettable.

By Ifham Nizam

Life style

Stars shine bright

Published

6 days ago

2026/05/24

Thilina Walpola

Leading figures from the industry graced the ‘Tharulya’ Muhurat ceremony

An auspicious beginning for ‘Tharulya’

The Muhurath ceremony of ‘Tharulya’ the newest teledrama directed by Sudarma Jayewardena, was held in a graceful setting at Waters Edge recently, bringing together artistes, television personalities and invited guests from the entertainment industry.

The auspicious occasion marked the official beginning of the much-awarded teleseries, with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp adding colour and glamour to the evening.

Cast members and crew joined Sudarma in celebrating the launch while industry well-wishers extended their support for the production.

Sudarma is known for her emotionally rich story telling and distinctive creative touch. When asked about her new tele-serial, she expressed optimism ‘Tharulya’ is expected to bring a fresh narrative to the local television audiences. For her ‘Tharulya’ can be described as a reflection of dreams, emotions and human relationships, woven into meaningful teledrama narratives. The word ‘Tharulya’ evokes a poetic sense of stars, hope and destiny, symbolising the journeys and emotional bonds explored through the story.

Sudarma Jayewardena is known for her work as a actress, director, producer and creative visionary behind several acclaimed teledramas. Over the years she has build a reputation for presenting emotionally layered stories that explore family dynamics, social realities, women’s experiences and human relationships with sensitivity and depth .

Her teledramas are known for strong story telling, refined casting and cinematic production.

The teledrama, ‘Ganga Adare’, directed by Sudarma, is among the well known television production.

This tele-series became popular on the small screen for its emotional story telling, strong character development and family centred narrative style that resonated with Sinhala TV audiences.

Sudarma’s involvement in musical events, like ‘Sonu Nigam,’ highlighted her versatility beyond teledramas, showcasing her ability to create large scale entertainment events that combined glamour, culture and audience appeal.

Sudharma, who is no stranger in the entertainment industry, is the Managing Director of Star Events. ‘Tharulya’ was produced by Saranga Mendis. This much talked about teleserial is all set to unspool on Derena TV.

Beyond teledramas , Sudarma also contributed to musical and entertainment programmes, expanding her influence within Sri Lanka’s media industry. Her productions are often noted for their polished presentation and emotional story telling. (Zanita) Pix by Thushara Attapathu

: Smile,glamour and anticipation for the young star

: Powerful performances expected as he steps into a key role

: Moments from the launch

: Soulful voice adds magic

: Creativity in motion as Director Sudarma Jayewardena leads the cast with her spouse

: Invited guests marked the launch

Life style

Sri Lanka and Viet Nam soar into a new era of co-operation

Published

6 days ago

2026/05/24

Thilina Walpola

Landmark visit celebrating diplomacy, connectivity and growing economic partnerships

Air Bridge of Friendship

The state visit of the Party Secretary and State President, To Lam of Viet Nam, to Sri Lanka, heralds a defining moment in bilateral relations, where diplomacy and aviation converge in a new era of connectivity. With the launch of Viet Nam air services, linking the two nations, the partnership soars behind traditional statecraft -opening a seamless corridors for tourism, trade and cultural exchange between South and South East Asia.

My interview with the Ambassador for Viet Nam in Sri Lanka, Trinh Thi Tam, went as follows:

(Q) How significant is the State visit to Sri Lanka by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam?

(A)Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to Sri Lanka is highly significant as it takes place when the two countries have just celebrated 55 years of diplomatic relations in 2025. Viet Nam is the first ASEAN members to visit Sri Lanka, and is also the first ASEAN country that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited after assuming office. More, importantly, both sides agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership on this occasion, opening a new chapter for cooperation in politics, trade, tourism, culture, education, and connectivity. The visit reflects the strong mutual trust and the shared determination to deepen cooperation in the years ahead.

(Q) Viet Nam and Sri Lanka share centuries old Buddhist links. How can these spiritual and cultural ties be transformed into stronger people-to-people tourism?

(A) Viet Nam and Sri Lanka share centuries-old Buddhist and cultural links, which create a very strong foundation for closer people-to-people relations. These spiritual ties can be transformed into stronger tourism cooperation through Buddhist pilgrimage tours, exchanges between temples and universities, cultural festivals, and tourism promotion programmes. Increased air connectivity and easier travel arrangements will also encourage more visitors to explore each other’s cultural heritage and strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

(Q) Direct flights between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City has generated great excitement in Sri Lanka. How important is this milestone for tourism and bilateral relations?

Proud moment for Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam

(A) The launch of direct flights between Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City by Viet Nam Airlines (national carrier) and Viet Jet (a private airline) is a historic milestone for bilateral relations. It not only shortens travel time but also creates new opportunities for tourism, trade, investment, business cooperation as well as people-to-people and cultural exchange. This achievement comes at a very meaningful moment, following the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership, demonstrating the commitment of both countries to enhance practical cooperation and strengthen connectivity between Southeast Asia and South Asia.

(Q) Do you think this direct flight will significantly increase Vietnamese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka within the next few years?

(A) Yes, we believe the direct flights will significantly increase Vietnamese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka over the next few years. Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly attractive to Vietnamese travellers because of its beautiful beaches, Buddhist heritage, natural landscapes, and hospitality. Easier connectivity and tourism promotion activities will help more Vietnamese people discover Sri Lanka. We also expect stronger two-way tourism exchanges, contributing positively to economic cooperation and people-to-people relations between the two countries.

(Q) Do you see Colombo becoming a stronger regional hub connecting Viet Nam with the Indian Ocean region?

(A) Colombo has great potential to become a stronger regional hub connecting Viet Nam with South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Sri Lanka’s strategic geographic location, combined with improving connectivity and growing economic cooperation, can help facilitate trade, tourism, logistics, and maritime cooperation. Following the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership, Viet Nam sees many opportunities to work more closely with Sri Lanka in regional connectivity initiatives and strengthen economic links between Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

(Q) Viet Nam and Sri Lanka have enjoyed decades of friendly relations. What makes this partnership unique in Asia?

Proud moment for Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam

Trinh Thi Tam played a key role in celebrating the historic visit

(A) The Viet Nam–Sri Lanka partnership has been built on longstanding friendship, mutual trust, and deep cultural connections rather than only economic interests. The two countries have consistently supported each other over many decades and share common values regarding independence, peace, and international cooperation. President Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam’s Nation Father, stopped over in Sri Lanka on three occasions. Vietnamese people has always treasured the strong, unconditional support offered by Sri Lankan people during our hard struggle against imperialism and colonialism. The recent elevation of bilateral ties reflects the maturity of this relationship and the shared vision to expand cooperation across many sectors in a sustainable and balanced manner.

(Q) How does Viet Nam view Sri Lanka’s role with South Asia and the Indian Ocean together?

(A) Viet Nam highly values Sri Lanka’s important role in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Sri Lanka’s strategic location and historical role as a maritime and commercial centre make it an important partner for regional connectivity and economic cooperation. With Sri Lanka’s keen interest in engaging more with ASEAN (Regional Comprehensive Economic Parnership ) Viet Nam believes Sri Lanka can play an even stronger role in connecting South Asia and Southeast Asia, especially in trade, tourism, logistics and maritime cooperation.

(Q) How would you describe the current diplomatic relationship between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka after the Party General Secretary and State President’s visit?

(A) Following the visit, the diplomatic relationship between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka can be described as stronger, more dynamic, and more future-oriented. The establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership demonstrates the high level of political trust and creates a solid framework for expanding cooperation in many important sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, education, digital transformation, agriculture, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

(Q) After the Party General Secretary and State President, what is your vision for Viet Nam-Sri Lanka relations over the next decade?

(A) Over the next decade, we hope Viet Nam–Sri Lanka relations will develop into a stronger, broader, and more practical partnership under the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership. We expect deeper cooperation in trade, tourism, connectivity, digital economy, education, renewable energy, agriculture, and maritime cooperation. At the same time, people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation will continue to grow, creating a solid foundation for long-term friendship and mutual prosperity between the two countries.

(Q) What message does Viet Nam wish to send to Sri Lanka and South Asian Region through the visit?

(A) Through the Party General Secretary and State President’s visits to India and Sri Lanka, Viet Nam wishes to send a strong message of friendship, cooperation, and shared development to Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region. The visits demonstrates Viet Nam’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in South Asia and promoting peace, stability, connectivity, and economic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.