Rice and curry Kiribath Typical Sri Lankan dish of rice and prawns. The central feature of Sri Lankan cuisine is boiled or steamed rice, served with a curry of fish or meat, along with other curries made with vegetables, lentils, or fruits. Dishes are accompanied by pickled fruits or vegetables, chutneys, and sambols.

Food expenses in Sri Lanka can be quite affordable, especially if you opt for budget restaurants where a meal can cost as little as $2 to $5 per person. Mid-range restaurants offer a wider variety of cuisines and typically range from $10 to $20 per person.

Rice & Curry Firstly, “Rice and Curry”: the national dish. Forget India, Sri Lanka is the birthplace of the make-you-cry-curry. They love cooking with the hottest chillies they can find, usually cooled down with coconut milk.

Generally speaking, you'll always be able to find one of the country's staple dishes on a menu: steamed rice and curry. This traditional food in Sri Lanka often includes chicken, fish, beef and mutton but there are also vegetarian curries made with lentils, jackfruit or mixed vegetables instead of meat.