Sunday Times 2
Sri Lanka’s chocolates, tea and tourism get a boost at the United Nations
View(s):Sri Lanka launched a triple promotion at the United Nations last week when its tea, chocolates and tourism – not necessarily in that order – got a tremendous boost among diplomats, delegates and UN staffers.
The annual event was held for the third consecutive year — titled Le Salon du Chocolat III — with all proceeds from the sale of chocolates (through a system of coupons) being donated to support the children of Yemen: a country facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
Sri Lanka was one of about 17 countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Switzerland, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE and Latvia featured at the event held on March 21 2019.
The Sri Lanka table featured chocolates from local manufacturers such as Edna, Maliban, Anods and Diana, in various forms, including hot chocolate drinks, chocolate cookies, chocolate biscuits, slabs and bars, and an array of teas including hot black tea and iced flavoured teas.
The colourful stall also displayed posters and brochures promoting tourism and tea and was an instant hit attracting a stream of guests. However, the highlight was the chocolate tea, made with Ceylon tea, chocolate and spices.
The recipe for this tea was specially sent to the Permanent Mission by the Sri Lankan Tea Board. The visitors, who included Permanent Representatives, diplomats and native New Yorkers, appreciated the chocolate tea.
The event was organised by the Arab Ladies at the UN together with the Permanent Mission of Yemen.
DJ Carlos who was hired for the occasion, played Sri Lanka favorites such as Indunil Gangulal, Yanna Rata Wate and Midule Weli Maligawae. The event also featured various artistes including Sid Chidiac the renowned chocolate painter from Algeria who displayed a fabulous array of portraits entirely in chocolate, renowned singers from Finland, and Sri Lankan expatriate Guru Calai Chandrashekaram who performed an evocative Bharatha Natyam devotional to the culture of dance.
The Permanent Representative of Yemen thanked Sri Lanka and the other states for participating in this charity event to benefit the children of Yemen.
Participation at Salon du Chocolat III served as part of a series of side events this mission organised on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women.