CHSGA felicitates ‘Asia Pacific Bartender of the Year’ competition winners

The Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association (CHSGA) organised a felicitation ceremony for the two local contestants who received accolades at the ‘Asia Pacific Bartender of the Year’ competition held in Singapore recently. The event including cocktails and dinner was held at the Water’s Edge Hotel with the CHSGA President, organising committee, beverage partners Rockland Distilleries Ltd. and event partners present.

At the APBY in Singapore, Hashini Karunarathne (Creative Category) performed at the Semifinals and Dhanushka Dias (Flair Bartender) won the 4th place at the finals. The winners were awarded a week’s training at the Association of Bartenders & Sommeliers, Singapore by courtesy of Rockland Distilleries, in view of the Asia Pacific Bartender of the Year competition.

They were selected at the Grand Finals of the 25th National Bartenders’ Competition 2017, organised by CHSGA in association with Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management and Beverage Partner Rockland Distilleries Ltd., which was held on 18 August at Movenpick Hotel, Colombo. National Bartenders competition is the showcase of innovative bartending in Sri Lankan HORECA sector. This year’s competition covered eight regions in the country with over 200 bartenders taking part at regional levels.

At the event, CHSGA President Sanjeeva Perera stated, “CHSGA is proud to shine a spotlight on emerging bartending talent in our country. These creative minds continue to move the industry forward, and we’re extremely honoured to play a role in identifying the next generation of innovative bartenders throughout the country. While also thanking our Beverage partners Rockland Distilleries Ltd., who have helped elevate the artistry of cocktails, we are proud that they will be journeying with us for the next five years. Our annual bartender programs hope to increase both consumer awareness of the brand and appreciation for the industry as a whole.” 

32 year old Danushka Dias, employed at Movenpick Hotel Colombo, whose winning cocktail ‘Chester’ won him the 4th place in the finals, said that the journey to Singapore had been nothing short of life-altering: “Standing there amongst such incredible talent from across the region, I didn’t allow the odds against me to sway me from being myself in the competition and I was honoured to be recognised for craft. I take my flair artistry very seriously, and it’s an extraordinary feeling to be recognised for doing what I love. I am thrilled to have joined an elite group of such inspiring bartenders from across countries.”

Hashini Karunarathne, a 20 year old Hotel School Management student, who participated in a competition overseas for the first time, said: “I’m thrilled – it’s such an honour to bring home memories and experiences, especially when competing against such talent from several countries. However, the knowledge I gained during the week’s training in Singapore gave me the confidence to face the challenge. It has inspired me to continue pushing the boundaries of flavours and to explore how all the senses can be engaged through cocktails. I can’t wait for the experiences ahead in my chosen field.”