Sri Lanka will host the World Spice Festival from 14 to 24 August 2008. Sri Lanka has had strong links with spices since the 15th century. During the Festival dishes from all around the world are cooked and served in various hotels and restaurants around the island. There is a bazaar every evening on the shores of Beira Lake in the centre of the capital city Colombo.


© mckaysavage

The best place to purchase spices is at the Kandy Central Market only open on Fridays.

Although Sri Lanka, formerly known Ceylon, is famous for its tea plantations, cinnamon has always been an important export and Sri Lanka produces around 80% of the world's cinnamon.