How a new generation of Sri Lankans is reshaping Colombo’s restaurant and bar scene

For decades, Colombo has been treated less as a cultural destination and more as a quick stopover between the Sri Lankan capital’s airport and the country’s more popular southern coast, where tourists flock to five-star resorts, beachside bars and premier surfing spots. That is beginning to change. As Sri Lanka continues to recover from a 26-year civil war (1983-2009) and the fallout from a recent economic crisis (2019-2024), there is new life in Colombo’s culinary and hospitality...