Colombo, March 2022: Ministry of Crab Colombo has, once again, been ranked as one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. The 2022 list was unveiled at the awards ceremony that took place on the 29^th of March at the Pullman Bangkok, where Ministry of Crab ranked No.35.

Co-owned by Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara and Dharshan Munidasa, Ministry of Crab is a celebration of Sri Lanka’s Regal Mud Crab, being the first in Sri Lanka to focus on the internationally famous Sri Lankan Crab as the hero ingredient. The restaurant is known for its commitment to freshness, the use of the best local ingredients and its unique dishes, drawing in guests from across the globe. 

“For us at Ministry of Crab it has been a decade long journey of celebrating Sri Lanka’s iconic Mud Crab and showcasing the culinary prowess of Sri Lanka to the world, and to be recognized for our efforts by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for the 8th consecutive year is amazing. We are honoured to place Sri Lanka on the culinary landscape of the world.”

Sharing his thoughts on Ministry of Crab’s achievement Mahela Jayawardena states “This accomplishment is attributed to the perseverance and dedication of our entire team, who overcame many challenges over the past two years to keep creating the truly unique experience for our guests that we are known for!” 

The list is created based on votes by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of more than 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia’s restaurant scene. The panel is made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and highly regarded ‘gourmands’, with a 50/50 gender balance. Prior to 2021, each Academy member voted for 10 restaurants, with at least four of these from outside their home country/ special administrative region. Since the global pandemic has restricted international travel, the voting rules have been revised to reflect this change. This year voters could nominate a total of eight restaurants, including up to six from their home country, but with no obligation to vote for restaurants outside of their home country/special administrative region.

Countries that make up the voting body for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants  are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

“This coveted list features some of the finest restaurants in Asia and we are so proud that Ministry of Crab has earned a space to stand amongst these culinary giants. As a restaurant showcasing predominantly local ingredients, being recognized as ‘the Best Restaurant in Sri Lanka’ by the Asia’s 50 Best Academy is an incredible honour. We are extremely thankful to our guests who have been part of our journey over the past decade and without whom we would not be where we are today” added Kumar Sangakkara.