Award-winning Sri Lankan restaurant group Colombo Kitchen and its founder and Executive Chef Sylvia Perera are celebrating a hat-trick of awards during June, led by a reader-voted win in the Muddy Stilettos London Muddy Awards 2026.
Colombo Kitchen Putney was named the London winner of the Best Restaurant category following public nominations and voting by Muddy Stilettos readers.
The independent Sri Lankan restaurant was selected from a distinguished London shortlist that included Barrafina in Soho, Bubala in King’s Cross, Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden and Michael Caines at The Stafford in Mayfair. The Muddy Awards celebrate independent businesses across the UK, with finalists chosen through public nominations before progressing to a reader vote.
The result marks a significant achievement for Colombo Kitchen Putney, which opened on Upper Richmond Road in 2024 and has developed a loyal following for its authentic Sri Lankan cooking, vibrant regional flavours and warm, family-led hospitality.
The London restaurant win comes as Sylvia has also been presented with the Honorary Doctorate in Culinary Arts and Gastronomy Award 2026 at the Avicenna (Ibn Sina) Doctorate Awards. The award was presented during a black-tie ceremony hosted by Lord Rami Ranger in the Churchill Room at the House of Lords on Thursday 25 June, recognising Sylvia’s lifelong dedication to food and hospitality and her contribution to society through her work championing authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.
Completing the trio, Colombo Kitchen Putney was also named Favourite Restaurant at the 2026 Positively Putney BID Favourite Business Awards, following a public vote by members of the local community.
Sylvia Perera said:
“To be named the London Restaurant winner in the Muddy Awards is incredibly special, particularly because it was decided by readers and diners. To be recognised alongside such highly regarded restaurants is a wonderful honour for our whole family and team. Receiving the Culinary Arts and Gastronomy Award at the Avicenna Awards ceremony was also deeply moving. Cooking has been part of my life since childhood, and everything we have built through Colombo Kitchen has been rooted in the food, traditions and hospitality I grew up with in Sri Lanka. We are equally grateful to the Putney community for voting for us as their Favourite Restaurant. These awards reflect the dedication of our team and the continued support of the guests who allow us to keep sharing authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.”
Sri Lankan-born Sylvia grew up in Kurana, near the coastal city of Negombo, where she developed her understanding of traditional Sri Lankan cooking through family recipes and techniques passed down through generations. After moving to the UK and raising her family of four, she launched a catering business in 2013, followed by the popular Kottu Kart street-food stall in Piccadilly. At the age of 60, Sylvia opened the first Colombo Kitchen in Worcester Park in 2019, followed by its Putney restaurant in 2024. She continues to oversee both locations as Executive Chef, shaping menus rooted in Sri Lankan heritage, regional flavours and the traditional cooking methods she learnt during childhood.
Known for dishes including hoppers, kottu roti, Jaffna crab curry, Negombo prawn curry and Sylvia’s Great Taste award-winning lamprais, Colombo Kitchen remains a family-run restaurant group dedicated to preserving and celebrating the breadth of authentic Sri Lankan cuisine.
The latest accolades follow Sylvia’s recent recognition as Culinary Innovator of the Year at the Asian Who’s Who Awards 2026 and her inclusion in the British Asian POWER 100. Colombo Kitchen was also named Sri Lankan Restaurant of the Year at the Nation’s Curry Awards earlier this year.