NELUM BUDDHADASA
COLOMBO ; The media launch of Jayaflava was held at the Cinnamon Life in Colombo on 17th February 2026 and was attended by special invitees and members of the media. The Jayaflava series is a First-of-Its-Kind Sri Lankan Travel & Food Series that is scheduled to premiere on the 20th of February on the National Geographic channel.
Sri Lanka is about to step into the spotlight on one of the region’s most respected television platforms with the premiere of Jayaflava: Celebrating Sri Lanka, a six-part travel and food series hosted by Tasha Marikkar and airing on National Geographic South Asia. Premiering on Friday 20 February at 8.00 PM (Prime Time), with a prime-time repeat every Sunday at 1.00 PM, the series will broadcast across India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives — placing Sri Lanka’s story directly in front of one of the most valuable travel audiences in the region.
Jayaflava is not only a food show but a vibrant, funny, and deeply modern love letter to Sri Lanka — told through the flavours that define the island, the landscapes that shape its communities, and the people who keep its culture alive. Inspired by Tasha Marikkar’s Harper Collins-published cookbook Jayaflava, the series takes a signature approach: each episode begins with one iconic dish, then follows it outward — into a city, a coastline, a village, a kitchen, a conversation, a story. The dish becomes the thread, but the destination is always Sri Lanka itself.
Tasha, a Sri Lankan author and food storyteller who lives between London and Colombo, brings a voice that is both intimate and global — deeply rooted in the island, yet perfectly fluent in how to translate it for international audiences. Already featured on BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen Live, and widely profiled for her book, she is not performing Sri Lanka for the camera — she is simply bringing the world into it, with humour, warmth, and a sharp, modern eye.
The series is directed by Afdhel Aziz, who comes into Jayaflava following his hugely successful documentary Genius of the Place, which explored the legacy of Sri Lanka’s greatest architect, Geoffrey Bawa. With Jayaflava, Aziz further cements his commitment to telling Sri Lankan stories at the highest cinematic standard — stories that are proudly local, yet designed to resonate far beyond the island.
During the thirty minute, six episode series, viewers are taken on a journey from Colombo to Jaffna, Hiriketiya to Puttalam, Bentota to Galle, and along the scenic Southern Coast — presenting Sri Lanka not as a single postcard, but as a layered, vibrant location. Each episode is centred around a popular dish : Kotthu in Colombo, Crab Curry in Jaffna, Good Times in Hiriketiya, Hoppers along the South Coast and Colombo, Coconut in Puttalam, and Lamprais in Galle. Along the way, audiences will also meet some of the most influential voices shaping Sri Lankan food and culture today, including Chef Dharshan Munidasa from Ministry of Crab, Lahiru and Don from Smoke & Bitters, Booker Prize-winning author Shehan Karunatilaka, Chef Karan Gokani of London’s Hoppers, and broadcaster and author Nihal Arthanayake.
Beyond the entertainment value, the series signals a strategic shift in tourism marketing. It marks a move away from generic destination advertising towards authentic storytelling—content that creates an emotional connection with viewers from a Sri Lankan perspective. By making audiences yearn to experience the activities showcased in the series, the programme aims to turn passive viewers into active travellers, proving that high-calibre narrative is the ultimate driver for international bookings.
This series has been made possible by a rare coalition of brands who stepped forward to invest in Sri Lanka’s cultural story as a serious tourism asset. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts leads as the Title Sponsor, reflecting the brand’s deep belief in promoting Sri Lanka on a larger scale. Widely recognised as the Sri Lankan hospitality brand, Cinnamon’s role in the series is both foundational and visible — with Jayaflava showcasing four of its key properties, including Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka in Colombo, positioning it as the new face of modern Colombo and the next chapter of Sri Lanka’s tourism future.
Mastercard joins as Main Sponsor, supporting the project as part of its commitment to initiatives that strengthen Sri Lanka’s tourism economy and increase international awareness. Flying Ravana Adventure Park comes on board as Sponsor, bringing a fresh and exciting dimension to the series by spotlighting Sri Lanka’s growing adventure tourism sector — reinforcing that the island is not only beautiful, but thrilling, dynamic, and evolving. The series is further supported by advertisers including Noritake, SriLankan Airlines, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
Behind the scenes, the partnership between Jayaflava, National Geographic South Asia, and its sponsors was structured and executed by Dentsu Grant, in what is being recognised as a first-of-its-kind media deal in Sri Lanka. Known for consistently shattering glass ceilings in the local industry, Dentsu Grant has played a pivotal role in proving that Sri Lankan stories can be packaged, funded, and delivered at an international broadcast standard — and that premium storytelling can be a serious platform for tourism, national pride, and regional visibility.
Jayaflava: Celebrating Sri Lanka is designed for prime-time Friday night viewing. It is a vibrant, sensory journey that promises to leave audiences hungry, laughing, and inspired to explore. Beyond the screen, however, the series serves as a bold cultural manifesto. It captures the essence of modern, multicultural Sri Lanka—diverse, chaotic, beautiful, and unapologetically ready for the global stage.
Viewers can watch the Jayaflava premiere across the region on National Geographic South Asia: PREMIERE: Friday, 20 February | 8:00 PM REPEAT: Sunday, 22 February | 1:00 PM (available on Dialog TV and PEO TV)
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