There is a huge difference, says Chandra Malalasekara, between Indian food and the food of Sri Lanka. It's mainly in the spices. "Totally different," he says. He's the Sri Lankan owner of Spice Lanka, so he should know.

Along with the Southern India region around Goa, Sri Lanka was once part of the Portuguese empire. So the cuisine reflects this in its adoption, for instance, of pork, which isn't acceptable to India's Hindu or Muslim cuisines. The Sri Lankans, who came under the Portuguese Catholic influence that has no objection to swine, make a sausage not unlike the chorizo. They also have a custard dessert of egg-yolks and sugar reminiscent of Portugal's pasteis de nata, though they add coconut to make it their own.

Maldive fish, a dried fish, is probably Sri Lankan food's most distinctive flavor, added to vegetable dishes much as Italians use cured anchovies for an extra depth of taste. As in Goa, coconut and chili play key roles in Sri Lankan dishes.

'Hoppers' and 'string hoppers' (appam and indiappam) are the Sri Lanka version of vermicelli, made with fermented rice flour and formed into a mounded pancake shape to be steamed then eaten, commonly, at breakfast or light dinner with curry and coconut sambal.

Chandra Malalasekara's wife makes many Sri Lankan dishes to take out. There are mutton curries, chicken and beef kothus (curries), devilled cuttlefish, various patties, beef roti, fish and mutton rolls, oil cake and desserts in a kitchen at the back of the market. There are other Sri Lankan ready meals in the freezer. On the grocery shelves are sauces and canned goods from Sri Lanka, as well as symbols of the period when Sri Lanka was part of the British empire, like Marmite and Horlicks. 

Spice Lanka, 17517 Redland Rd, Derwood, 301 216 2238.

Posted on Tuesday 12th August 2008 in Far East & Africa, Markets

7 Comments

1. Malinka De Silva

   They goods are not price marked (which is against the law) and charge different prices for the same item at different times. It is also the same with their catering. This is a common complain amongst the Washington DC sri lankan community and most of us only go there now to get what is not available in the Indian Stores. Sri Lankan goods in the Indian Stores in the area are much cheaper and of better quality. Most often Spice Lanka's dried fish is old and has fungus on them.

2. Hemnath De Silva

   There is no such consumer law to have fixed prices displayed of items displayed on every product in MD/DC or VA (Nutrient/Ingredient is a FDA regulation). It is only a convenience factor.
   How many of us know much gas prices are on any given day before it is posted? Gas prices drive others as well. I have lived in this community alone for 27 years and have never heard such complains among the expatriates. I patronize to our businesses than critisize them. I go to every show,cultural event etc.
   i.e. Larich or Marketing Department products are the same whether they are sold at Spice Lanka or in an Indian Store.
   I have done this business in the past and imported directly from Sri Lanka. We need to come together as a nation, as expatriates and help each other out instead of offering negative publicity. Spice Lanka is doing a service to all of us. What we do not like, we can refrain from buying.....it is an option and not mandated by anyone or any entity. Constructional critism will help improve quality and it needs to be directed at the owners, and NOT the general public. If anyone thinks they are not satisfied with Spice Lanka products, they can bring better products and sell creating good competition.
   
   (All the Indian stores in the area sold my products as I sold wholesale to them the exact same items I sold and a claim of better quality in one place Vs the other was pure nonsense).

3. Anonnoymous

   TO: Malinka De Silva
   First of all people like you shouldn't go to spice Lanka, just go to some other indian store. I know alot of people from the srilankan community who love spice Lanka. they dont need negative comments from people like you! they are highly apperciated by the good people of the srilankan community. They do so much to help the community by bringing SL items to the states. If you have your negative comment, keep it to yourself and dont go there.

4. aussie sri lankan

   I was surfing the net for suppliers of SL spices and happened upon this page... it seems to me that the sri lankan community over there should embrace and encourage there fellow sl's and not put them down!!! I was quite disgusted at the comments I read... is there any need for this? You could have had a quiet word to the ownwer... not slander! I agree with Hemnath De Silva! Come together!!!!!!

5. guest

   Don't kill the messenger.. she only voiced her opinion. There might be many other who think the same and avoid the store. May be the Malalasekara's could take her advise and fix those problems.

6. Happy customer

   We love this place. It's the only place you can get Sri Lankan food in the DC area. The customer service is wonderful.

7. Hemnath De Silva

   I have emphatically commented on patronizing to our own Sri Lankan businesses as expatriates and this is what we lack as a community. This should be true to everyone. Those who want Sri Lankans to buy their products must also patronize to other Sri Lankan businesses for the community to thrive.
   
   If Malinka De Silva experienced such an event, the above writing might be a valid entry!