Business
Uber Eats 2025 Cravings Report: Sri Lankans crave spice, then reach for chocolate
We dug into what Sri Lankans ordered on Uber Eats in 2025, and one thing stood out immediately – rice didn’t just show up, it dominated. ‘Rice and curry’ emerged as the number one searched term of the year. When it came to specialty rice dishes, Fried Rice clearly won the crown, beating Biriyani by a convincing margin.
Spice once again dominated delivery instructions, with the most popular request simply being: ‘Make it spicy.’ From main meals to snack-time favourites, Sri Lankans showed no signs of holding back on heat. Even achcharu orders packed a punch, with Mixed Achcharu and Spicy Wood Apple Achcharu leading flavour preferences – a clear sign that the nation’s love for daiyya is still going strong.
The Uber Eats Cravings Report 2025, a snapshot of the country’s favourite cravings and binge-worthy dishes, also reflected the platform’s growing footprint. In 2025, Uber Eats expanded to six new cities – Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Matale, Matara, Hikkaduwa and Puttalam – taking delivery deeper across the island. Colombo remained the country’s biggest hunger hub, followed by Kandy and Galle.
Sri Lanka’s long-standing love for Short Eats showed no signs of slowing down. The Chicken Chinese Roll took the top spot in 2025, narrowly edging out the Fish Chinese Roll and Chicken Samosa as snack-time favourites – proof that classics still rule snack time.
Chocolate stole the spotlight when it came to desserts. All five of the most-ordered desserts in 2025 were chocolate-based, led by Chocolate Lava Cake, followed by Chocolate Doughnuts, Eclairs, and Muffins – leaving little doubt about the country’s go-to comfort flavour.
When it came to beverages, in a country that is among the largest tea exporters in the world, coffee continued its winning streak. Iced Coffee ranked as the most-ordered drink on Uber Eats last year, beating out soft drink favourites as customers looked for their caffeine fixes – preferably served cold.
Grocery trends reflected everyday kitchen essentials, with milk, onions, bread, and coconut topping shopping carts on the app. True to Uber Eats’ Get Almost, Almost Anything promise, non-food items were also popular, with sanitary napkins leading the list, followed by tissues and household cleaning products.
Sri Lankans also showed their trademark generosity and politeness on the app. Nearly 42% of customers included the word ‘please’ in their delivery instructions, while customers tipped delivery partners a total of Rs. 55 million over the year.
The year also saw some standout ordering moments. One loyal Uber Eats user in Colombo ordered from the same restaurant an incredible 466 times, while another saved Rs. 200,000 in Uber Eats membership benefits in a single month. Group orders reached new highs too, with the largest single cart bringing together 128 participants, and pizza remaining the ultimate party favourite – peaking at 24 pizzas in one order.
Flower orders told an interesting story in 2025: for every two bouquets ordered for Mothers’ Day, three were sent on Valentine’s Day, showing that romance narrowly stole the spotlight.
Seven years in, Uber Eats continues to shape how Sri Lanka gets its favourite items delivered – whether it’s rice and curry with extra spice, chocolate-loaded desserts, or everyday essentials delivered on demand. Whatever Sri Lanka is craving, Uber Eats is ready to deliver it, just the way they like it.
The 2025 Food Menu Royalty:
·Fried Rice
· Kottu
· Rice & Curry
· Biryani
· Submarine
The 2025 Grocery Menu Royalty:
·Milk
· Onions
· Bread
· Coconut
· Banana
The 2025 ‘Get Almost, Almost Anything’ Winners·
Sanitary Napkins
· Paper Serviettes
· Tissues rolls and packs)
· Cleaning supplies: Dishwash and Detergent
· Pet Food
Most popular Short Eats·
Chicken Chinese Roll
· Fish Chinese Roll
· Chicken Samosa
· Fish Bun
· Chicken Bun
Most ordered beverages·
Iced Coffee
· Cola brands
· Lime Juice
· Chocolate Milkshake
· Avocado juice
Most ordered desserts
·Chocolate Lava Cake
· Chocolate Doughnut
· Chocolate Eclair
· Cashew Chocolate Bar
· Chocolate Muffin
Business
Sri Lanka Tourism makes a strong impression at CMT 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany
Sri Lanka Tourism marked its presence at CMT 2026, held in Stuttgart, Germany, one of the largest consumer travel fairs in Europe. The Sri Lanka Stand accommodated representatives from the local tourism industry, providing a valuable platform to connect directly with the German travel community, particularly travellers with long-haul travel intentions.
Sri Lanka’s participation at CMT 2026 enabled direct engagement with consumers and helped stimulate interest in exploring the country’s diverse and year-round travel experiences. This presence addressed a long-standing need for Sri Lanka Tourism to participate in major consumer-focused travel platforms, effectively taking destination promotion directly to the travellers’ doorstep.
A wide range of travel packages, customised itineraries, accommodation options, and experiential offerings were presented to interested German consumers by Sri Lankan DMCs, under the umbrella of Sri Lanka Tourism. The platform also allowed potential travellers to clarify concerns and queries related to planning travel to Sri Lanka through direct, face-to-face interactions with industry professionals.
These direct engagements enabled Sri Lankan industry participants to gain valuable insights into emerging travel interests, changing consumer behaviour, and evolving customer expectations in the German market. The face-to-face discussions with end consumers strengthened the industry’s understanding of demand trends and product requirements.
Strategically, Sri Lanka Tourism’s focus on B2C promotions serves as a catalyst for strengthening B2B platforms, ensuring that final decision-makers—the travellers—are actively engaged alongside trade partners. This alignment enhances the overall effectiveness of trade collaborations. Well-designed consumer promotion activities, including giveaways, contests, experiential engagements, and cultural performances, created emotional connections with visitors, improved destination recall, and reinforced Sri Lanka’s positioning as a compelling long-haul destination. (Sri Lanka Tourism)
Business
Adora raises the bar for hospital-backed aesthetic care in Wattala
Dr. Piyumini Gunasekara on advanced non surgical treatments
Hemas Hospitals has strengthened its regional healthcare positioning with the launch of Adora Cosmetic Centre at Hemas Hospital Wattala, introducing a hospital-backed, clinically governed model of aesthetic medicine at a time when South Asia’s cosmetic sector is expanding faster than regulation.
Unlike standalone cosmetic clinics, Adora is fully integrated into the Hemas Hospital ecosystem, embedding aesthetic services within hospital-grade infrastructure, multidisciplinary medical support and internationally aligned clinical governance.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Lakith Peiris, Managing Director of Hemas Hospitals & Labs, said the centre represents a deliberate shift in strategy.
“Adora is not about cosmetic enhancement alone. It is built on protocols, trained clinicians and governance. As healthcare providers scale across the region, safety and medical credibility must remain non-negotiable,” he told The Island Financial Review.
The centre is positioned as a health-class facility, combining advanced aesthetic technologies with evidence-based medical pathways. This approach addresses growing regional concerns over unregulated cosmetic practices, offering patients reassurance through professional oversight and ethical medical standards.
Prabhan Gunawardena, Director General Manager of Hemas Hospital Wattala, said the initiative reflects both clinical responsibility and business foresight.
“The cosmetic industry is evolving rapidly across South Asia. Adora demonstrates how innovation can be scaled responsibly when anchored in medical expertise and hospital governance,” he said.
Detailing the centre’s scope, Dr. Piyumini Gunasekara, Medical Officer – Adora Cosmetic Centre, said treatments are designed to address medical and aesthetic concerns through personalised, evidence-based care.
She told The Island Financial Review:”We offer advanced non-surgical treatments for concerns such as hyperpigmentation, acne and acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, collagen loss, enlarged pores, rosacea, UV damage, excessive sweating, warts and moles. Every procedure is clinically assessed and delivered within a hospital-backed framework to ensure safe and sustainable outcomes.”
Clinical governance remains central to operations, reinforced by Dr. Malith Atapattu, Director – Medical Services and Quality, who highlighted the importance of protocol-driven care in a sector often challenged by inconsistent standards.
As Sri Lanka positions itself as a regional healthcare and medical tourism destination, hospital-led aesthetic centres such as Adora signal a broader industry shift—where growth is aligned with governance, trust and long-term sustainability.
For Hemas Hospitals, Adora represents a calculated entry into a high-growth segment without compromising medical integrity. For the region, it underscores a clear message: the future of aesthetic care lies in hospital-backed, clinically governed models—not cosmetic shortcuts.
By Ifham Nizam
Business
John Keells Consumer Foods Sector dominates SLIM National Sales Awards 2025 with landmark wins
The John Keells Consumer Foods Sector (JKCF) has reinforced its standing as a powerhouse in Sri Lanka’s FMCG industry with an exceptional performance at the SLIM National Sales Awards 2025, securing an impressive total of 27 awards. This remarkable achievement reflects the sector’s unwavering commitment to building high-performing teams, nurturing sales excellence, and driving sustained growth across its diverse business verticals.
Representing the iconic brands of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), Keells Food Products PLC (KFP), and Colombo Ice Company (CICL), JKCF has long been recognized for its rich legacy of innovation and leadership in beverages, frozen confectionery, and processed foods. Its long-standing focus on people capability and performance culture continues to fuel industry-leading achievements, with the latest recognition at SLIM NSA 2025 marking one of the largest collective wins by a single organization in the event’s history.
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