Sulakshana de Mel. Photo: The Examiner.
30-03-2026
TASTE researcher Sulakshana de Mel (KITLV) was interviewed by The Examiner during her networking meetings in Sri Lanka, where she was doing fieldwork. During the interview she cooked and spoke about regional cuisine that hails from the South of the country (Tangalle) which was historically a Sinhalese town with a bustling Sri Lankan Malay population.
Interview
Although only three persons of Sri Lankan Malay heritage are presently recorded in the Tangalle Municipality, Malay influence can be well noted in food preparations in the Sinhalese households. For the full interview, click on the button below. The Examiner is a Sri Lankan subscription based digital newspaper named after one of the first newspapers in the country Ceylon Examiner(1846).
Videos
For a KITLV iftar event at the Sri Lankan Malay Association Sulakshana made a video in collaboration with Ruzaina Hadgie which had been featured in the YouTube Channel Minority Taste. It received more than 20.000 views in multiple social media platforms.
Sulakshana was also interviewed on the history of the Malay community by Sri Lankan social influencer Sheneller. The interview can also be watched on YouTube.