News Today: Welikada Prison Prepares Largest Milk Rice Dish

In a heartwarming gesture marking the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Welikada Prison inmates have prepared Sri Lanka’s largest milk rice dish, spreading festive cheer behind bars. The celebratory meal, cooked yesterday, brought together tradition, unity, and a spirit of sharing among the prison community.

A total of 50 inmates worked together in the prison kitchen to prepare this massive dish. Using 400 kilograms of raw rice and 705 coconuts, they created a feast that not only reflected Sri Lankan culture but also the capabilities and coordination within the prison system.

To accompany the milk rice, a robust serving of lunu miris was made using 60 kg of onions, 12 kg of dried chilies, 7 kg of green chilies, and 10 kg each of tomatoes and lime, complemented by 30 kg of liquid salt. Every detail reflected authentic preparation and care.

This grand meal was distributed to nearly 3,300 male and female inmates, with each receiving a generous 225-gram portion of milk rice. It wasn’t just limited to Welikada—Prison Media Spokesperson Commissioner Gamini B. Dissanayake stated that milk rice was prepared for approximately 30,000 inmates across the country, uniting the prison population in a shared New Year tradition.

In addition to the meal, New Year rituals were conducted islandwide, and oil anointing ceremonies are scheduled for April 16th, continuing the celebration within Sri Lanka’s correctional system.