-Iinaugurated by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Employment
Sri Lanka celebrated 40 years of diplomatic ties with Sri Lankan food, dance and music
in Seoul and Gwangju
The Sri Lanka food festival was inaugurated at the Millennium Seoul Hilton on
Wednesday 17 May with a sumptuous array of Sri Lankan dishes laid out for food lovers
in Seoul. Chef SelliahKaruppan from the Hilton Colombo was especially flown in for
the second consecutive year to prepare a range of authentic Sri Lankan dishes with
the Millennium Seoul Hilton, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of Sri Lanka. The
preparations included egg hoppers, kottu, yellow rice, string hopper pillaw, crab curry,
cashew curry, fish ambulthiyal, brinjalmoju, cutlets, devilled beef and prawns, and Sri
Lankan specialty desserts such as watalappanandcoconut rock.
The food festival was inaugurated by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Employment ThalathaAtukorale, Chairman of the Korea Importers’
Association Shin Myoung-jin and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Manisha Gunasekera, among other dignitaries.
Senior representation from KOIMA, the Korea EXIM Bank, and other agencies,Korean
celebrities, the business community and travel trade, sponsors, and the media
participated in the inauguration enjoying authentic Sri Lankan food, Ceylon tea and
traditional Sri Lankan dance. Spa Ceylon products were on displayexhibiting the
healing and wellness traditions of Ayurveda
Minister Atukorale in her remarks indicated that Sri Lanka has been part of the
historical Spice Route since time immemorial, and that Sri Lankan food has been cross-fertilised over centuries by Portuguese, Dutch, Southeast Asian and Indian cuisine,
among others. The combination of spices, coconut milk and coconut oil, vegetables,
fish and meats, and the use of clay chattis or cooking pots, all contribute to the end
product of complex yet exquisite dishes, she noted. Chairman KOIMA welcomed the
showcasing of Sri Lanka culinary traditions in the heart of Seoul. The food festival
which was organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy and the Millennium Seoul Hilton in
association with the Hilton Colombo continued until 26 May.
Two dance performances by Sri Lanka’s renowned and internationally acclaimed choreographer–percussionist Master RavibandhuVidyapathy and his dance troupe delighted Korean
art lovers at two packed performances at the National Theatre of Korea in Seoul and
the Asia Culture Centre in Gwangju, on Friday 19 and Sunday 21 May, respectively. The
performances included a repertoire of classical Sri Lankan dance including Vannam, Ves,
Thelme, SaluPaliya; traditional Sri Lankan drum arrangements displaying the intricacies
of rhythm and technique; andadaptations of modern ballet such as Macbeth.
The dance performances were organised by the Sri Lanka Embassy, the Korea
Foundation and the Asia Culture Center in Gwangjuas part of a series of promotional e
vents launched to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and
the Republic of Korea. The event in Seoul was attended by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Employment ThalathaAtukorale and the Ambassador for Public
Diplomacy of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Park Enna as chief guests. Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Manisha Gunasekera presented the 40th
anniversary souvenir published by the Embassy to the Sri Lankan and Korean chief
guests on the occasion of the performance in Seoul.
The Ravib and huperformance in Gwangju was attended by the President of the Asia
Culture Center Bang SunGyu and Vice Mayor of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Park
Byungho, among other dignitaries. Korean lovers of classical dance and music, other
dignitaries and the diplomatic corps participated in the events. The Korea Foundation
as well as the Asia Culture Centre in Gwangju appreciated the unique opportunity to
introduce the rich heritage of Sri Lankan dance and music to the Korean public. The
events were also supported by SriLankan Airlines, Korean Air, Sri Lanka Tourism
Promotion Bureau, Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and other sponsors.