Army food festival:

A taste with a difference

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

For the colourful spring festival in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka Army is adding a grand scale food festival adding spice to the fun life over there with a food festival comprised with a variety of different food types existing in this island. The Army food Festival - Hela Viru Rasa Udanaya 2014 inaugurated this year under the command of Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake from April 15 to 22 at the Urban Development Authority premises in Nuwara Eliya.

"Army personnel have continued to be supportive partners in many activities in the development of the country in this post war era. Army personnel have shown that they are a multi skilled group of people and it is only following the victory gained over terrorism that the Army personnel got the chance to showcase their skills," said Security Forces Commander of the Central Province Major General Ubhaya Medawala. Maj. Gen. Medawala has been given the responsibility of organising this tasty cum educational food session to serve the public.

"Under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and directives of Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa the Army attempted at different times to showcase the hidden talents of the Army officers and other rankers," Maj. Gen. Medawala said. This is to show the real human being behind the weapon. This culinary exercise is one such chance for the versatile cooks of the Army to show their talents.

"Professional chefs have been working in the Army providing food and nourishment to the hard working Army officers and soldiers all these years. Yet nobody knew how talented they were. This opportunity will show the country that how talented the chefs and cooks of the Army and how versatile they are," he said.

For the first time in the Army history they are collecting recipes from different parts of the country and showcase this pride of the country.

"The chefs and cooks of the Army carried a survey in all parts of the country in two months to collect recipes and ingredients unique to those areas. And they found a great variation in different types of cooking and dishes as well as ingredients.

Our chefs met the people and families who had these recipes to find the uniqueness of the food as well as the nutritional value," Maj. Gen. Medawala said.

The aim of this food festival is to reintroduce typical foods of different provinces and display the skills of soldiers and generate public awareness about the authentic Sri Lankan food while sharing their knowledge among the public.

The uniqueness of civilisation and culture is derived from the past. Sri Lanka has a unique culture which is described in historical writings and proven through archaeological evidence.

"We hope to give people a better idea about the value of typical Sri Lankan food while educating the public on history and how certain types of dishes have evolved over time especially with influences from Arabic sailors and in Colonial time," he explained.

"It is with deep sense of responsibility that we embark on this endeavour to make the public aware, through social and cultural changes prevalent in existing commonalities, of the value of healthy food," said the Major General.

The most unique feature of this festival is the demonstration of a variety of food cultures in the island agglomerated in one piece. It will definitely be a different kind of experience for the Army as well as to the public.