Colombo Kitchen, a Sri Lankan restaurant group based in south west London, has raised close to £3,000 to support communities affected by severe flooding in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah. The fundraising effort was led by Sri Lankan-born chef and restaurateur Sylvia Perera, with additional personal donations made by Chef Sylvia herself.
The funds were raised through a series of community-led activities. These included a fundraising buffet held at Colombo Kitchen on 30 November 2025, where all profits went towards flood relief. A further contribution came from a pop-up at Imperial College London Hospital, which raised more than £1,000 through sales of Colombo Kitchen’s Lamprais, a traditional Sri Lankan Dutch Burgher dish of rice and curries wrapped in banana leaf and baked, alongside classic rice and curry boxes.
Beyond fundraising, the Colombo Kitchen team has also provided practical aid. They have sourced, packed and shipped essential relief parcels containing food, drinks and household items. These supplies were sent directly to Sri Lanka to support families who lost their homes or access to basic needs due to the flooding.
Colombo Kitchen is distributing funds directly to affected families by working with two doctors based in Sri Lanka who are helping to identify those most in need. This approach allows the team to ensure that support reaches families quickly and is used as intended, with progress tracked locally.
The areas most affected by the flooding include Kotmale and Kandy, which will be the main focus of the support. Based on the funds raised so far, Colombo Kitchen plans to assist two to three families, with scope to support more if further funds are secured. Priority will be given to low-income households, families with children and female-led households. In addition, two boxes of clothing have already been sent to Kotmale through trusted contacts at St Mary’s Church to provide immediate help.
In March 2026, Chef Sylvia and members of the Colombo Kitchen team plan to travel to Sri Lanka to meet families in person and help select recipients of financial support to assist with rebuilding homes. This next phase will be carried out with support from medical professionals and local community contacts in Kotmale and Kandy.
Chef Sylvia Perera comments: “Sri Lanka will always be home to me, and seeing the impact of the floods on families and communities has been heartbreaking. Colombo Kitchen is rooted in family and community, so coming together to raise funds and send practical support felt like the most natural thing to do. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported these efforts, both here in London and back in Sri Lanka.”
The initiative reflects Colombo Kitchen’s focus on heritage, family and care, extending the values behind its restaurants in Putney and Worcester Park to support communities in Sri Lanka during a period of hardship.