Sri Lanka Takes Best Food Award for Third Year Running at Commonwealth Food Fair
in Rome, Italy
Embassy Team Wins Third Place and Best Team Jersey at Commonwealth Club Cricket Cup 2026
For the third consecutive year, Sri Lanka has been awarded first place for “Best Food” at the Commonwealth Food Fair, held alongside the Commonwealth Club Cricket Cup 2026 organised by the Commonwealth Club of Rome, with UISP Roma, and the patronage of the Italian Cricket Federation, on 26 September 2026 at the Roma Cricket Ground in Rome, Italy. The Sri Lanka Embassy Team also finished third in the cricket tournament along with Rome International–UniCassino, andreceived the trophy for “Best Team Jersey”.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome took part in the event in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), engaging with a wide audience drawn from diplomatic missions, international organisations, cricket clubs, communities and cricket lovers from many countries.
Speaking to Gazzetta Diplomatica at the grounds, Ambassador Satya Rodrigo highlighted cricket’s special place in Sri Lanka as a sport that unites communities across all walks of life and generations. He also noted the growth of cricket in Italy, including the Italian national team’s debut at an ICC World Cup at the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, and paid tribute to Sri Lankan Francis Alphonsus Jayarajah, the first captain of the Italian national cricket team in 1984.
The Sri Lankan stall, catered this year by the “Suresh Food & Drinks” Restaurant in Rome, run by Sri Lankan Mr. Suresh Kekulthotuwage, offered visitors kottu, chicken fried rice, pol roti with seeni sambol, vegetable rolls, chicken patties and watalappan, served with Ceylon Tea. Alongside the food, the Embassy and the SLTPB shared information on Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage, scenic destinations, beaches, wildlife and renowned hospitality, presenting the country as a diverse and attractive travel destination.
On the field, the Embassy Team showed strong team spirit and sportsmanship throughout the tournament, securing third place. Its award-winning jersey designed by the Embassy- combined maroon and gold colours with lion and lotus, as a Colombo meets the Colosseum, united the spirit of the national flag with landmarks of the Eternal City.
Initiated in 2017 by the Commonwealth Club of Rome, the Commonwealth Club Cricket Cup brings together teams from Commonwealth diplomatic missions, Rome-based international organisations, cricket clubs and other institutions, promoting cricket, sportsmanship and interaction among Commonwealth members and the wider international community in Italy.The five teams this year were the Embassies of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, a UN team from the Rome-based agencies, the Commonwealth Club of Rome, and the Rome International–University of Cassino team, composed of young students from India and Pakistan.
The Sri Lanka Embassy first took part in 2024, winning second place in the tournament and first place for Best Food. In 2025 it retained the Best Food title and finished third in the cricket.
The Embassy thanks the SLTPB, members of the Sri Lankan community and all stakeholders who contributed to Sri Lanka’s successful participation. It looks forward to continuing such initiatives to promote Sri Lanka’s tourism, culture, cuisine and sporting traditions, and to further strengthen friendship and people-to-people ties between Sri Lanka and Italy.
