Sri Lanka shines with Bronze at Young Chef Olympiad 2026

The 12th edition of the Young Chef Olympiad 2026 (YCO26) recently concluded in Kolkata, India, with Sri Lanka proudly claiming the Bronze trophy at this prestigious global culinary competition. 

The event brought together students from 60 world-class culinary institutions from around the world, showcasing their talent, creativity and passion for the culinary arts.

Sri Lanka was represented by the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM), in partnership with the William Angliss Institute (RTO 3045), Australia, on this international stage. 

The competition challenged participants through two intense rounds: first, following specific recipe cards and second, creating unique dishes using a basket of provided ingredients. Each institute sent forth their culinary knight to interpret the ingredients and craft a winning dish. From the original 60 participants, only 10 competitors advanced to the Grand Finale, representing countries including Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, England and host nation India.

Sri Lanka’s representative, commercial cookery student Rumira Piyasiri (CC18), rose to the occasion with months of rigorous preparation while studying for his Certificate IV in Kitchen Management (SIT40521). 

Under the mentorship of Chef Lecturer Imeshika Silva and with the unwavering support of the entire CAHM team, Rumira successfully secured the Bronze award, placing Sri Lanka among the top three culinary institutions in the world.

Technology also played a key role in the competition, as the contestants worked with the renowned KitchenCut Recipe and Food Costing software designed by former Burj Al Arab Executive Chef Chef John Oliver. This added a modern dimension to the competition, preparing students for the tech-driven future of the culinary industry.

The event was overseen by esteemed chief judges, including Professor David Foskett and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, under the visionary leadership of Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of the International Institute of Hotel Management, the organisers of the Young Chef Olympiad.