MasterChef Sri Lanka, with renowned chef Peter Kuruvita and AI, set to take global culinary stage by storm

Chef Peter Kuruvita 

By Uma Chandrasiri

Internationally acclaimed Australian chef and restaurateur Peter Kuruvita envisions MasterChef Sri Lanka as a platform where a multitude of aspiring home cooks will be given a voice, renewed hope, and transformative opportunities. Sri Lanka will garner global interest, culminating in the promotion of tourism and investment through this renowned culinary show. 

Talking to Daily FT, Kuruvita stated that the MasterChef Sri Lanka team is currently working on utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) to broadcast the show to any part of the world by converting the discussions on the show to the local dialect of the selected country. “We aim to make MasterChef Sri Lanka as heartwarming and personal as MasterChef Australia, and if we can take this show to the world, the opportunities for the island will be boundless.” 

Kuruvita, who is inordinately passionate about his art and healthy living, wishes to utilise the MasterChef platform to spread awareness and educate the public not merely on matters culinary but on healthy eating and exercise, as well as to urge Sri Lankans to always demand for the best, in terms of produce, meat, seafood, spices, etc. that they purchase. 

According to Kuruvita, the MasterChef franchise, owned by Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay Entertainment, is released only once every few years, and it is momentous that Sri Lanka has been awarded the privilege this year. “A positive outcome from this competition to the country would be that it will give people hope and aspiration to do better, to reach for their dreams, along with a great awareness of food, awareness of how kitchens work, and an appreciation of how hard a chef works,” says this iconic chef who lives by his truth that hard work and perseverance equals luck. “I have listened to 300 stories of hardship, hopes, and dreams during the past five days. MasterChef Sri Lanka will be more than a glamour and glitz show—I want to see a simple farmer from the village or an illiterate lady who slaves in Saudi Arabia go home with Rs. 3 million.” 

The MasterChef Sri Lanka committee has secured investment from many, but still requires further local investment in order to ensure a successful event. The contestants will be bestowed with an invaluable opportunity through the MasterChef Sri Lanka platform as they will be guided by a panel of four highly acclaimed judges, headed by Peter Kuruvita. Joining him are MasterChef Australia alum Savindri Perera and versatile and highly lauded Sri Lankan chefs, Rohan Fernandopulle and Kapila Jayasinghe. “I am passionate about seafood, and I would love to impart my knowledge to the contestants and teach them, among other tips, how to select fresh fish and even how to cut a fish, and educate them about the cold chain. I further hope that an awareness of cooking for better health will be reinvented and we will see a new generation of young Sri Lankans who love to cook.” Kuruvita added. 

The next filming of MasterChef Sri Lanka is targeted for late August/September, no sooner than the studio is constructed at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. The initial multitude of hopefuls have been whittled down to 80 currently, and this number will further dwindle to 22 following elimination challenges. The finale will see 11 males and 11 females competing for the ultimate culinary accolade, MasterChef Sri Lanka 2025. 

Kuruvita, who brought recognition and appreciation to his beloved Sri Lanka with the acclaimed television series “My Sri Lanka with Peter Kuruvita” in 2008, would love to host another such series, provided he can secure sponsorship, and plans on using local film producers since he believes that Sri Lankan film production is as good as overseas. Currently, he brings in two travel groups annually to Sri Lanka, with people joining from many parts of the world, to experience an authentic Sri Lankan culinary journey like no other, where his esteemed travel companions get to stay at luxurious accommodations at locations off the beaten track in the island, and master the art of Sri Lankan classics such as ‘koththu roti’ under the guidance of a maestro. In recognition of Kuruvita’s invaluable contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism promotion, the Government has bestowed a special recognition award in the category of “Contribution to Destination Promotion – Culinary” at the Sri Lanka Tourism Awards 2024. 

I ask him what the future holds, and this enigmatic chef concludes: “I wish to have 20 more good summers and travel the world with my wife.” 

Visit peterkuruvita.com for more details on his journey.