COLOMBO :“Investing in people and developing professional skills are essential to strengthening Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and creating better employment opportunities for young people,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Hon. Vijitha Herath said.
The Minister made these remarks while addressing the awards ceremony of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2026, held on 01 November at Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams, Colombo. He also presented awards to the winners of the competition, recognising their culinary skills, creativity and commitment to professional excellence.
Highlighting the potential of Sri Lankan cuisine as a tourism attraction, Minister Herath said that the country’s distinctive culinary traditions, local ingredients and cultural heritage should be promoted internationally while preserving their authenticity and meeting international standards.
He further emphasised the importance of developing culinary and hospitality skills among young people and strengthening cooperation between the private sector, professional associations and educational institutions to prepare skilled professionals for the industry.
The Minister also commended the participation of more than 1,500 students in the Junior Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition, noting the importance of providing young people with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities and develop careers in the hospitality sector.
The 2026 competition was organised by Nestlé Professional in partnership with the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association. More than 150 professional chefs participated in preliminary regional rounds held across the country, leading to the national awards ceremony.
This year’s competition also introduced the Green Spatula Award to recognise sustainable culinary practices, including reducing food waste, responsible sourcing and environmentally conscious kitchen operations.
The event brought together chefs, hospitality professionals, industry representatives and emerging culinary talent to recognise excellence and celebrate the contribution of Sri Lanka’s culinary professionals to the hospitality industry.
Minister Herath congratulated all winners, finalists and participants and appreciated Nestlé Lanka and its partners for their continued contribution to nurturing culinary talent and strengthening Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry.
