Life style

Rasai ! Top Sri Lanka Food and Drink Experiences

Published

3 years ago

2023/04/2

by Tim Russell

“Rasai” is Sinhalese for “delicious”, and if you’ve spent any time in Sri Lanka it’s no doubt a word you’ve heard a lot, for Sri Lankan cuisine is one of Asia’s most underrated.

Sri Lankan food is spicy, robust, filling and very, very tasty, whether you’re eating at an upscale restaurant like Colombo’s famous Curry Club, or stopping at one of the countless street stalls for a snack.

And Sri Lankans love a drink too! The country’s tea is world-famous, and you’ll also find fresh juice bars on practically every street. In the evening, bottles of the country’s famous liquor – arrack – are cracked open, and consumed neat, with soda or in cocktails, along with the local Lion Beer.

At Khiri we’ve scoured the country to find the best ways to introduce your clients to the best food and drink Sri Lanka has to offer, so here are our favourite Sri Lanka food & drink experiences…

Colombo Food and Drink Tours

Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, is an increasingly modern city but one that is still very much in touch with its heritage, with new skyscrapers towering over tastefully refurbished colonial buildings, and a street food culture that remains vibrant and traditional.

Khiri offers several food/drink-related tours including the Foodie Tour (an evening street food tour), Colombo Behind the Scenes, and the Arrack Adventure, where you can discover – and taste – the country’s local liquor.

My time in Colombo was limited so I did a combination of all three. My tour started at a Tamil restaurant where I tasted various Tamil delicacies including ghee roti accompanied by a fiery seeni sambal (onions, sugar and chilli), followed by snacks at a Muslim street food joint, before we moved onto classier surroundings with arrack cocktails at the stunning Galle Face Hotel.

We then had some street snacks down by the beach including isso vade (small shrimp cakes) and the ubiquitous kottu roti (a mix of chopped roti bread, chicken, vegetables and curry sauce). We then tried the egg hoppers (and more arrack) at the Curry Club, before rounding off the evening at a traditional Sri Lankan dive bar, for more arrack!

This is an excellent experience that really gives travelers a quick primer into the kind of dishes that they’ll encounter during their trip, and also a really fun way to learn more about the culture and history of Sri Lanka’s capital.

Markets of Sri Lanka

Like most Asians, Sri Lankans still do most of their shopping at fresh markets and every town has at least one bustling marketplace selling all manner of weird and wonderful fruit, veg, seafood and meat. They’re a great place to learn about local ingredients, chat to the friendly locals, and stop for a snack and a cup of Ceylon tea.

My personal favourite was Pettah Market in Colombo – less a market and more a maze of streets selling pretty much everything including food, electronics, clothing, shoes and much more besides. I could easily have spent hours trawling these streets and watching the apparent chaos unfold, especially in the wholesale fruit and veg district, a riot of trucks, porters and flying watermelons!

Kandy’s central market is also well worth a visit, especially the chaotic, yellow-walled vegetable hall which is a photographer’s dream, and the spice stalls selling dozens of different spices packed into plastic tubes.

And finally there’s Dambulla vegetable market, a huge wholesale market where growers from all over Sri Lanka come to sell their wares to the resident traders – expect lots of haggling, shouting and friendly smiles, and don’t miss the tea and spicy samosas at the workers’ cafe.

Old woman picking tea on a traditional plantation

A Sustainable Tea Plantation

Sri Lanka’s tea is world famous. Ever since the British introduced tea plantations in the 19th century, Ceylon tea has been a byword for quality. These days however, the industry is struggling. Outflanked by high-tech tea plantations in Japan and lower labour costs in Kenya and China, Sri Lankan tea is no longer as competitive as it was on the global market and the country has slipped to third place in the list of world tea exporters.

Add the fact that tea picking is a hard, unglamorous and poorly-paid job (on most traditional plantations pickers earn around $3 per day for picking 22kg of leaves), which makes it less appealing to younger Sri Lankans, and you have an industry that is in trouble.

So increasingly, growers are starting to realize that quality, rather than quantity is the way forward, and one such company is Amba, situated in the hills near the town of Ella. Amba specialises in high quality craft teas, hand-picked by tea ‘artisans’, who are responsible for their leaves from picking to drying. They are paid well, don’t have daily quotas to meet, are given protective clothing from the sun and rain, and are the way forward for the industry.

Watching them work there’s a clear difference from the traditional workers I encountered by the roadside – whereas the old model is to pick as many leaves as you can, Amba’s pickers take their time, sometimes going maybe half a minute without picking a single leaf – unthinkable on one of the old plantations.

The company exports its tea to high-end sellers worldwide (including London’s famous Fortnum & Mason), and offers tours of its facilities to visitors, finishing with a tasting of their different brews. A great way to learn about the history – and more importantly the future – of what is still Sri Lanka’s biggest export.

Discovering Buffalo Curd

The name ‘buffalo curd’ may not sound particularly appealing, but it is by far Sri Lanka’s most popular dessert and you will see covered clay pots of the stuff for sale along the roadside all over the country. It tastes just like natural yogurt, and is traditionally served with coconut syrup to sweeten it. Spend any time in Sri Lanka and you’ll quickly get a taste for it, whether at breakfast or as a dessert – and it’s fascinating to see how it’s made.

One of our newest experiences takes place in the village of Tissa near Yala. My day began with the sunrise as we arrived at a small buffalo farm near the lake to watch the whole process from start to finish. Mr Jinadasa, the grandfather of the family, is up early to milk the buffalo – he was particularly busy on the day I visited as there were several younger buffalo there which meant the mothers were producing more milk than usual, and the family were thus able to make a dozen pots of curd instead of the usual five or six.

Jinadasa’s wife and daughter then take turns to heat the milk to separate the curd. This is the hardest job of the lot as the milk is boiled over a wood fire in a poorly ventilated room – I could only stand the smoke for a couple of minutes! The curd is then poured into clay pots to set before being taken to sell by the roadside, earning the family a few dollars per day. Your clients’ visit helps support them in an economic climate where costs are rising dramatically but their income isn’t keeping pace.

The clay pots in which the curd is sold are unglazed so can only be used for food storage once – Sri Lankans then use them as flowerpots, building material or simply as ornaments and they can be seen in nearly every garden!

The tour continues with a simple breakfast – including some curd of course – before a visit to a local pottery to watch the pots being made and dried before being sold to the area’s buffalo farms.

Sri Lankan Family Dinner in Galle

Eating in restaurants or at street food stalls is great, but to find out how local people really live you can’t beat visiting a local family home and eating at their table, and that’s exactly what I did during my stay in Galle.

Our hostess Natasha and her husband Navi – a respected local hotel chef – welcomed us to their home in Galle where we began with arrack and passion fruit Mojitos and a game of carrom (one of Sri Lanka’s national sports – they were 2018 world cup winners!), before being presented with a table groaning with shrimp curry, grilled fish, salads, vegetable curries, and of course the ever-present dhal curry and rice.

In traditional Sri Lankan fashion the family didn’t actually eat with us – they sat and nervously watched us eat to make extra sure we were happy with the food, which of course we were as it was absolutely delicious. We finished with fresh fruit and some watalappan (a kind of custard made from coconut and cardamom) before heading home very full and very happy. It was a great way to spend my last full night in Sri Lanka and a fascinating insight into local home life.

Tim Russell joined the Khiri Core team in 2022, bringing decades of experience in the tourism industry into his role as Group Marketing Manager. Before moving to Bangkok in 2012 – where he now lives with his wife and their three rescue dogs – Tim spent almost ten years in Vietnam. When he is not overseeing Khiri’s marketing efforts, Tim can be found indulging in his passions for photography, live music, and street food. – Khiri Travel

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Life style

Grace, grooming and confidence

Published

6 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The leadership team behind the academy at the head table

Ramani Fenando’s new Image and Etiquette Academy

In a world where first impressions speak before words, Sri Lanka’s beauty icon Ramani Fernando has taken a bold step beyond the salon chair to shape confidence from within. Her newly launched Etiquette and Image Academy is designed to refine not only appearance, but presence, poise and personal power.

Step into a space where confidence meets sophistication, Ramani Fernando Academy is redefining how Sri Lankans approach personal branding ,offering a unique blend of ettiquette, style and communication mastery.

Her newly launched personal branding and EtiquetteAcademy was unveiled in a simple ceremony at the Galle Face hotel. This marks a bold and timely step into the realm of confidence leadership, presence and modern social grace.

Colombo’s social elite, corporate leaders, fashion insiders and longtime clients gathered in celebration of a vision that seeks to shape not just appearance but cofidence building.

Ramani, in her opening speech, said “our courses are carefully designed to meet with international standards, ensuring participants recieve training that meets both local and global expectations.

Ramani Fernando – shaping confidence

Professional face of etiquette training

Faith Launders who is the Director of Etiquette and Protocol in the Academy pointed out this personal branding and etiquette programmes will help participants cultivate grace, confidence and refined personal style through expert guidance. A former Miss Sri Lanka beauty queen, with experience in aviation, will contribute a creative and professional lens to the Academy’s curriculam.

Invitees from the world of fashion gathered to celebrate the occasion

Carolyn Jurie

Chalana at the helm of beauty

She brings professionalism, poise and a strong commitment to cultivate confidence and promote refined social skills among students. Known for her approachable style and inspiring presence, she strives to create an inclusive learning space where students can transform into confident individuals to navigate life with dignity and elegance.

For decades, Ramani has been a transformative force in Sri Lanka’s beauty industry.

and now this venture signals a natural evolution from external refinement to the art of personal distinction.

The programme blends traditional etiquette with contemporary relevance, offering personal branding and professional image building both in social and corporate etiquette. These are some of the programmes:

= Communication skills and body language, grooming, style and wardrobe alignment.

= Digital image and social media conduct.

= Platforms or in social events the ability to command attention with confidence has to become an important tool.

In today’s hyper connected world, impressions are formed in seconds often long before a handshake, whether in boardrooms, diplomatic circles or in the media.

The teaching staff consists of industry experts trainers amd adminitrators led by othe senior professionals

The Managing Director, Lakmini Lenagala, Training and Administrative Manager, Ramono, Navaratnarajah, Personal Assistant, Merisha Aserappa and Chalana Munasinghe are all industry professionals who have experience, theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

They are experienced instructors with hands on expertise in grooming, etiquette, image building and communication.

While the vision of the Personal Branding and Etiquette Academy belongs to Ramani Fernando, its strength lies in the collective expertise of the professionals who bring the programmes to life.

By bringing together specialists from diverse fields, the Academy offers participants a rare opportunity to refine every dimension of their public and private persona under one roof.

Sessions cover skin care, hair, make up, wardrobe planning and colour coordination.

Communication and public speaking recognising that presence is also conveyed though voice and expression, the Academy offers training in articulation tones, posture and body language.

The training also includes table manners, event conduct, professional courtesy and cross cultural awareness. This Etiquette Academy us designed for both women and men offering guidance on grooming, communication, professional conduct and social confidence.

The Academy acts as a transformative space – one that equips individuals not merely to succeed but to stand out with authencity and grace. The institution reflects Ramani Fernando’s belief that true elegance is a way of being not simply a way of dressing!.

By Zanita Careem

Pix by Thushara Athapatu

Life style

From rescue to rewilding, Kalo’s journey continues

Published

6 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

World Wildlife Day 2026:

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else: resilience.

Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and thriving.

The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense. There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with one another.

That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to prepare them for rewilding.

Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.

Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.

“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.

For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.

In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors. In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.

Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing, and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.

Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.

“When Kalo walks back into the forest in 2029, it will mark the completion of a journey that began in crisis but was sustained through commitment,” added Arshed Refai. “We are proud that Sun Siyam Care is part of that long-term promise.”

Until then, Kalo continues doing what young elephants at Ath Athuru Sevana are meant to do: growing, learning, and preparing quietly for a life in the wild.

Life style

Pakistan’s 86th National Day celebrated in Sri Lanka

Published

6 days ago

2026/03/29

Thilina Walpola

The High Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Pakistani community based in Sri Lanka celebrated the 86th National Day of Pakistan with traditional flavour and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, vibrant and progressive democratic welfare state.

The day commemorates a defining moment that led the foundation for the creation of Pakistan.

The ceremony commenced with the raising of their national flag, fluttering proudly against the morning sky, symbolising faith, unity and discipline, the ideals upon which the nation was built. Dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, community leaders and guests gathered in silence as the national anthem resonated creating an atmosphere charged with emotion and national pride .

Cultural elegance added a distinctive charm to the occasion, with traditional attire and warm exchanges reflecting the rich heritage of Pakistan. Guests were later invited to partake in light refreshments, providing an opportunity for cordial interacton and celebration.

Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Zunaira Latif unfurled the Pakistani flag to the tune of Pakistan’s national anthem in a ceremony held at the Pakistan High Commission

The National Day of Pakistan is celebrated on 23rd March every year in remembrance of the historic 1940 resolution passed in Lahore, calling for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent that ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan on August 14, 1947.

Special messages by the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan were readout, in which both the leaders highlighted the importance of the day and paid tributes to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in her message on the occasion said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka continue to maintain their traditionally close and mutually beneficial relations, based on mutual respect and trust. She said that the strength of the Pakistan – Sri Lanka relationship lies in diversified engagement in many fields such as trade, defence, science, culture, and education. She also extended sincere greetings and best wishes on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to the government and people of Sri Lanka.