The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai successfully hosted the first-ever “Sri Lanka Food Festival 2026” from April 24 to 26 at Green Meadows Resort in Chennai. The three-day event attracted over 700 participants.

The gathering included South Indian film actors and actresses, diplomats, business leaders, members of tourism associations, Rotary Club members, and media personnel, representing a wide range of sectors.

The festival served as an important platform to showcase Sri Lanka’s diverse culinary heritage to the world and to offer guests an authentic experience of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. The main objective of the event was to promote tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties through culinary diplomacy, further strengthening cultural relations between Sri Lanka and South India.

The Chief Guest at the “Sri Lanka Food Festival 2026” was Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder and Chancellor of Vels University. Blaze Kannan of Dwarka Productions, Nassumi Azar, General Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo, and Sri Lankan actor Kalana Gunasekara also attended the event.

A highlight of the festival was the participation of master chefs from Cinnamon Grand Hotel, who enabled guests to experience the authentic flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine. In addition, traditional dance performances by the Sri Lanka Police Dance Troupe showcased the country’s rich artistic heritage.

The event was also attended by Rotary District Governor Suresh Jain and Naveen Gupta, President of the Chennai Coastal Rotary Club.

The Rotary movement announced plans to donate an ambulance to Sri Lanka and renovate 30 schools in the country, further strengthening cooperation in the health and education sectors between the two nations.