Sri Lankan cuisine excel in Thai capital
‘Manel and Nimal
‘Manel Lanka’, a Sri Lankan specialty restaurant in the city of Bangkok, celebrated its first five years of phenomenal success recently. The story of ‘Manel Lanka’ is the story of Nimal and Manel and of their courage and perseverance. Although Bangkok is a major economic centre in Asia, replete with all modern amenities, foreigners new to the city are discomfited when it comes to food, as Thai food takes getting used to. Sri Lankans in Bangkok, however, are guaranteed a culinary experience reminiscent of home at ‘Manel Lanka’.
Nimal Anthony Fernandopulle and his wife Mafalda Luxshmi Manel, of Kochchikade, Negombo, the owners of ‘Manel Lanka’, began selling bath packets in Bangkok in the year 2010. Within five years that business grew into a restaurant, which can cater to even a thousand diners with no hassle. Having started all by themselves, Nimal and Manel, today, have a staff numbering 16.
‘Manel Lanka’ Team
‘Manel Lanka’ occupies a four-storey building in Patunam, within reach of major tourist attractions and places of commercial interest. Such famed shopping venues as the Indra Market, the Platinum Fashion Mall, the Siam Shopping Mall and the Patunam open Market are situated nearby.
The restaurant attracts many Sri Lankans weary with hours, or days, of shopping and hunger pangs. The food makes all Sri Lankans, irrespective of class or race, feel ‘at home’. Maintaining a business of these proportions in a great commercial city in a foreign land is no easy task. It is pertinent to say that the Fernandopulles have done us proud with their success.
Even now, possessing as they do a sizeable staff, Nimal and Manel play the major role in preparing the food, assisted by their head of kitchen Chandula Dayaratne.
Also, the phenomenal success of Manel Lanka triggered not a little number of copy-cat Sri Lankan restaurants, all of which however were closed down soon after opening. Manel Lanka is today the only restaurant in Bangkok providing authentic Sri Lankan food.
The restaurant opens at 9.00 in the morning and the closing hour would often drag even beyond midnight, as Nimal and Manel do not turn out any diner however late they may turn up.
It is telling of Manel Lanka’s popularity that Sri Lankans visiting Thailand for the first time plan ahead on a visit to the restaurant. Often you can spot here famous Sri Lankan figures including politicians, artistes and sportsmen and women.
Significantly, all food in Manel Lanka is sold at their normal price as can be had in Sri Lanka.