COLOMBO : On February 18, Ambassador Sugiyama praised Mr. Darshan Munidasa (owner of “Nihonbashi” and “Ministry of Crab”) for his contribution to the spread of Japanese food and food culture overseas. We have awarded a letter of appointment for “Ambassador”.
With the registration of Japanese food as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has been giving advice to Japanese food officials regarding the spread of Japanese food and food culture since 2014 in order to widely disseminate the appeal of Japanese food and food culture both domestically and internationally. We have appointed those who can do it as “goodwill ambassadors for the spread of Japanese food”. Munidasa was appointed as the first Sri Lanka Goodwill Ambassador to popularize Japanese food. In 2014, he received the Japanese Food Overseas Dissemination Achievement Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Munidasa has a history of popularizing Japanese food in Sri Lankan for more than 20 years. In 1995, we established a full-fledged Japanese restaurant “Nihonbashi” in Colombo, and in 2011 we established a high-class seafood restaurant “Ministry of Crab” that incorporates the essence of Japanese cuisine. From 2013 to 2018 and from 2015 to 2020, respectively. It has been selected as “ASIA’S BEST 50 RESTAURANTS” for 6 consecutive years until the year. In addition, the Ministry of Crab and Nihonbashi are actively working to expand their stores outside Sri Lanka.
In awarding the letter of appointment, Ambassador Sugiyama said, “I hope that through the activities of the Goodwill Ambassador for the spread of Japanese food, the spread of Japanese food in Sri Lanka will progress and the friendly relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka through food culture will further develop.” Said.
Munidasa said, “I am very honored to have been appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the spread of Japanese food by the Japanese government. I will continue to incorporate the philosophy of Japanese cuisine, create high-quality authentic cuisine, and spread Japanese cuisine. I would like to continue, “said a thank-you note.