Chefs Day celebrated

by Thulasi Muttulingam

President of the Chefs Guild, K.M.R. Morugama said that most talented chefs had left the island due to the conflict, but now with peace prevailing, tourism was picking up steadily and there is a demand for skilled chefs to cater to this increasing clientele. He said that there were probably more than 1500 Sri Lankan chefs all over the world, many of whom were distinguishing themselves in the field of culinary art.

“A Sri Lankan won the Best Chef Award at last year’s Dubai Culinary Competition and another Sri Lankan won the Best Pastry Chef Award at the same competition. We have several well-known chefs working internationally such as Chef Sudusinha in Dubai, Chef Senaka Perera in Maldives and Chef Amal Wijemuni in Egypt.”

He said this at the function organized at Mount Laviniya Hotel to mark World Chefs Day on Wednesday, October 20. Chefs from all over the island were in attendance and charitable events such as donating specially cooked food to children’s homes or elders’ homes were also conducted right round the island, to mark the Day.

General Manager, Mount Laviniya Hotel, Anura Devapura, who was once a chef who had worked in various countries himself said that there was once a time when Asian chefs were looked down upon by their European counterparts but the times had changed now. He noted that Asian chefs, several Sri Lankans among them were making their mark in the industry worldwide today.