A big thank you to our readers
26 Gold Medals, 22 Silver Medals and 8 Bronze Medals! The full measure of the generthey care about her plight.
That was the grand total osity of Sri Lankans came to the This was while many also that team Sri Lanka brought fore soon after the article headpromised her that they would home from the IKA lined, ‘Only hopelessness stares visit her humble home and Culinary Olympics held in in her face’ was published on the already some have, with one paying the baases as well. and buy her children’s needs Stuttgart, Germany last PLUS cover of the Sunday organisation walking around The calls had been poignant with the balance. month, one of the gastroTimes on February 23. her house and promising that as well – “I’m a pensioner,” a The monies flowed in too, nomic highlights of the 2020 The article was about mother they would fully repair the retired teacher had said, promclose to Rs. 340,000, to the bank world culinary calendar. of three, Kanthi Gunatunge of leaking roof by replacing all ising to put some money into account of this beleaguered
All this from the 28 local Pelahela, close to the asbestos sheets, Kanthi’s bank account as soon wife and mother as from within chefs, including four female Dekatana, upgrade the toilet as her pension is received; “I Sri Lanka and also abroad peochefs plus four officials for Kirindiwela, strugfrom one of squatting give a daane (alms-giving) for ple dug deep into their pockets the event who took part, Olympics is the most imporgling to survive and to that with a commy father in March, but that to help. their participation organtant international culinary cope with daily life mode so that Kanthi’s money I will send to Kanthi,” a “A 94-year-old gentleman ised by the Chefs Guild of competition for chefs. For and paralysed husaged mother-in-law well-known doctor said; and from Galle called to say that he Lanka. four days they could actually band, Sampath, in the need not strain her another has promised supercannot move around but has
Chef Gerard Mendis also witness the elite of the Neurotrauma Unit of knees and more. market vouchers so that Kanthi transferred Rs. 1,000 to my had the distinction of servworldwide chefs’ network, do the National Hospital This organisation could buy “anything” her chilaccount,” says Kanthi, overing on the panel of judges. their best to satisfy the palof Sri Lanka (NHSL), has also cleared dren would like to “kanna and whelmed by all this concern
The IKA Culinary ates of judges and guests as an unseen event Kanthi’s debts – the bonna”. and support.
Olympics is the internationalike. has shattered the life arrears and insurAnother person, meanwhile, While Kanthi keeps saying al culinary festival par excel“It’s certainly an extraorof this family. ance instalment payhad asked her to come to her that a heartfelt thank-you goes lence. Over 2,000 cooks from dinary moment for Team Sri The calls to ments of her essenoffice in Cinnamon Gardens, out from her, the children and around 60 nations participatLanka. We were better than Kanthi by numerous tial scooter which she after her 12 noon hospital visit, mother-in-law, the Sunday ed in this year’s event, preever before and fulfilled our people from Colombo and even needs to carry out all her duties and put into Kanthi’s hands Times is not only very appreciaparing food and presenting it dream of winning big this from as far as Jaffna and Galle and another loan from the close to Rs. 15,000 to pay the tive but also humbled by this within a given time frame in time,” said Chairman of the came early that Sunday mornHatton National Bank (HNB). It arrears on the Samurdhi loan immense response to our artithe respectivecle.categories.ChefsGuildLankaChefing,continuingthroughoutthehasalsodeliveredonitsprom-andpromisedtotransferRs.
Around 25,000 visitors visitGerard Mendis, the pioneer past two weeks, not only to ises with the building material 10,000 monthly to her account We too can say only two simed the ‘Messe Stuttgart’. who won a Gold medal at the assure her about financial supworth around Rs. 350,000 and to meet the Samurdhi instalple words to our readers –
The IKA Culinary Culinary Olympics in 1988. port but also to show her that indicated its commitment to ment of Rs. 2,000 every month “Thank you.”