Kiribath: the milk rice that marks every Sri Lankan milestone
Coconut milk rice cut into diamonds, eaten at new years, new jobs and new homes. The ceremonial dish anyone can try at breakfast. Kiribath, rice cooked in thick coconut milk and pressed into diamonds, is Sri Lanka's ceremonial dish: the first food of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the first breakfast in a new home, the plate.
On the plate
Kiribath, rice cooked in thick coconut milk and pressed into diamonds, is Sri Lanka's ceremonial dish: the first food of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, the first breakfast in a new home, the plate that marks every auspicious beginning.
You do not need a ceremony to try it. Many hotels and local eateries serve kiribath at breakfast with lunu miris on the side, creamy rice against sharp chilli, and the festive imbul kiribath version comes rolled around sweet coconut and treacle.
Frequently asked
What is kiribath?
What do you eat kiribath with?
When is it traditionally eaten?
Places in this guide
Sources
We compile and link to public sources; details change, so verify time-sensitive specifics before you travel.