Sylvia Perera Award 2026
Culinary Innovator of the Year.
Sylvia Perera, founder and Executive Chef of Colombo Kitchen, has been honoured with the Culinary Innovator of the Year Award at the Asian Who’s Who Awards 2026, alongside inclusion in the prestigious British Asian POWER 100 annual list.
Held at The Savoy on Friday 30th May, the awards celebrate influential British Asian figures across business, culture, hospitality, entrepreneurship and public life. Sylvia was recognised for her contribution to the UK’s culinary landscape and her role in championing authentic Sri Lankan cuisine through Colombo Kitchen’s acclaimed restaurants in Worcester Park and Putney.
Sri Lankan-born Sylvia grew up in Kurana, near Negombo, where she developed a deep understanding of traditional Sri Lankan cooking through family life and generations-old techniques. After moving to the UK in 1984 and later formally training in Australia, she launched her first catering business before introducing Sri Lankan street food to London audiences through her popular Kottu Kart stall in Piccadilly.
At the age of 60, Sylvia opened the first Colombo Kitchen in Worcester Park in 2019, followed by a second site in Putney in 2024. Today, she oversees both restaurants as Executive Chef, shaping menus rooted in heritage, family tradition and the regional flavours of Sri Lanka.
Through Colombo Kitchen, Sylvia has become widely recognised for bringing authentic Sri Lankan cooking to London audiences through dishes including hoppers, kottu roti, Jaffna crab curry and her award-winning lamprais, whilst helping introduce greater awareness and appreciation of Sri Lankan cuisine within the UK dining scene.
The recognition marks another milestone in a significant period for Sylvia and Colombo Kitchen, following a series of national industry accolades including National Chef of the Year and Surrey Chef of the Year at the 2024 Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards, alongside multiple restaurant awards for Colombo Kitchen itself.
Speaking following the awards ceremony, Sylvia Perera said:
“To receive this award and be included in the British Asian POWER 100 is incredibly special and something I never imagined when I first began cooking professionally. Colombo Kitchen has always been about sharing the food, traditions and hospitality I grew up with in Sri Lanka, and I feel very proud to see those flavours and stories recognised on this scale. Everything we have built has been rooted in authenticity, family and a genuine love of bringing people together through food. I’m deeply grateful to my family, team and guests for supporting the journey.”
Known for its warm hospitality and traditional cooking methods, Colombo Kitchen remains a family-run business, with Sylvia continuing to oversee the culinary direction across both sites. The restaurants have developed a loyal following for dishes rooted in Sri Lankan heritage, alongside a contemporary approach to presentation and dining experience.
