Sri Lankan rice and curry

Sri Lankan rice and curry

Rice and curry · Kandy, Sri Lanka

Foto: me · CC BY-SA 4.0

A plate of rice with several curries made from fish, meat, vegetables, lentils and fruit.

Antes de ir · Know before you go

  • Eat only with your right hand
  • on Buddhist holidays (full-moon poya days), many places don't sell alcohol

Este artículo está «Sin verificar». Consulte los avisos oficiales sobre precios, horarios y fechas.

Culture

Cultura y costumbres

Contexto cultural

Sri Lankan cuisine centres on rice and coconut, with many varieties of red rice. 'Rice and curry' is its core: a plate of boiled or steamed rice with a fish or meat curry and several curries of vegetables, lentils or fruit. Pol sambol (grated coconut with chilli, Maldive fish and lime juice) appears at almost every meal.

Costumbres locales

  • Most locals mix rice and curry with their right hand
  • lunch is the main meal of the day

Religión y creencias

  • Mostly Buddhist
  • many people eat vegetarian on Sundays or religious holidays.

Etiquette

Normas y tabúes

Normas que se aplican aquí

Línea rojaTemplos y lugares religiososSri Lanka

Sri Lanka: don't pose with your back to a Buddha statue

  • Respect Buddha statues and religious objects
  • Standing with your back to a Buddha statue for a photo
  • Making offensive remarks about religion

Disrespecting Buddha images is a serious offence and can lead to arrest; people with visible Buddha tattoos may be refused entry or deported.

Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: Sri Lanka travel advice

No lo haga DON'T

  • Eat only with your right hand
  • on Buddhist holidays (full-moon poya days), many places don't sell alcohol

Lo que aprecian los locales DO

Sri Lankans appreciate visitors willing to try eating with their hands.

Plan your visit

Información práctica

Consejos de viaje

  • Family restaurants in Kandy and along the way are most lavish at lunchtime, often covering the whole table at once. Prices and opening hours are set by each restaurant
  • popular old places often have queues, so go outside peak mealtimes.
Fuentes y notas de verificación

Wikipedia: Sri Lankan cuisine