Sri Lankan festival builds on regional popularity

Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), SriLankan Airlines and the Sri Lanka Business Council have joined forces with Renaissance Hotel Dubai to launch the Sri Lankan Food Festival.

Food connoisseurs and the general public will have an opportunity to sample a range of Sri Lankan delicacies at the event, which runs from April 7-21 at the hotel’s Spice Island restaurant.

At a press conference announcing the event, the organising bodies revealed that the Middle East had become the fastest growing source market for Sri Lanka.

SLTPB Middle East director Heba Al Ghais Al Mansoori said the country’s appeal as a destination was obvious.

“The food is exotic and wonderful, the people are gracious and friendly, the accommodation options are first rate and many of the sights are unparalleled anywhere in the world,” she noted, adding that Spice Island’s culinary promotion perfectly demonstrated the country’s variety.

“In spite of its tiny size, Sri Lanka boasts an amazing variety of food and styles of cooking. The island has a rich heritage of indigenous dishes and its regional cooking is strongly individual and varied,” she explained.

Renaissance Dubai Hotel director of food and beverage Hassan Yazbek added: “We are delighted to celebrate the Sri Lankan New Year through our Sri Lankan Food promotion, which is now in its fourth straight year.

“This year, our cooperation with the SLTPB and SriLankan Airlines will bring it to a whole new exciting level.”

Commenting on the national carrier’s involvement, SriLankan Airlines UAE manager Shiran Perera revealed that diners at Spice Island would have the opportunity to take part in a business card raffle, for which the top prize was two round-trip tickets to Sri Lanka.