Indian Ocean Supplement DWHA Special Edition | Page 15

Inspiration
EMBRACING THE CULTURE
Sri Lanka is a rich blend of different cultures that all play
a role on the island and the people are known for their
politeness, genuine smiles and helpful and friendly
nature. Because of this diverse culture, influenced from
all over the world, visiting the island can be a unique,
once-in-a-lifetime experience. In particular, dance
holds a deep meaning with the Sri Lankan people and
the traditional dances that have been passed through
generations are still performed. The dances now have
a perfect mix of both western modern trends and
traditional ones.
In terms of cuisine, most of the island’s dishes are
bursting with flavour and sensational spices. The food
has a unique fusion taste, brought to the island over
the centuries by Indians, Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch
and English. Staple meals consist of rice, which goes
well with their famous curry dishes. Other specialities
include various seafoods, kottu (spicy stir-fry with roti
bread and vegetables) and pittu (steamed rice with
grated coconut). To get authentic Sri Lankan food,
try the street stalls and cafés scattered all across the
country. Most of the island’s independent restaurants
can be found in Colombo, where tourism has inspired
the growth of a modest local eating scene. If you want
to inject a bit of Sri Lankan culture into your wedding
day, why not have a traditional Sri Lankan wedding
cake? Named a Kiribath, the cake is a combination of
rice cakes cooked in milk and served with jaggery (non-
centrifugal cane sugar).
ANCIENT TRADITIONS
STUNNING SITES
LOCAL SPECIALITIES
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