It’s cool to be a Sri Lankan, now.
When I was growing up, it wasn’t.
I felt very uncool. In the 70s, I was part of a mass of brown people originating from the Indian subcontinent. We ate funny food and had weird unpronounceable names.
I was awkward, quiet and very, very shy. I had big, thick hair that refused to be styled into the Farah Fawcett flick I desperately wanted. My shoes were Clark’s, and my clothes, high street, C&A and British Home Stores. I didn’t dare venture into Chelsea Girl until I was sixteen.
Like I said. Uncool.
Last December, I was in Paris and dropped into Kolam.
Run by Lahiru and Ravith, Kolam, Paris is a small Sri Lankan restaurant a short hop from Canal St Martin, northeastern Paris. The canal is lined with achingly hip boulangeries, bars, bistros and boutiques.
Kolam, Paris is tiny. Open from 12pm - 3pm, it seats eight people and has a small serving hatch for takeouts. The menu is short, filled with Sri Lankan favourites, mackerel cutlets, hoppers, dhal, and curry. The food is cooked on-site by Lahriu's dad in a tiny kitchen at the back of the restaurant.
With good Sri Lankan food and a strong brand identity, the Kolam team have caught the eye of Paris’ fashion community, hosting a Sri Lankan street food pop-up with Dover Street Market. They’ve collaborated with Adidas to create a line in the Campus sneaker range, Mirchi rum and the Streetwear brand PaperBoy Paris.
Kolam Paris is forging a new Sri Lankan and Parisian culture, and they are cool.
I want to thank Lahiru and Ravith for letting me photograph them and capture their new Sri Lankan Parisian cool.
Photo story: New Sri Lankan Parisian cool
Kolam Paris, Rue de Lancry, 75010, Paris (open from 12pm - 3pm)
Menu
Mackerel cutlets
Hopper pan
Ravith and Lahiru, Kolam Paris
Sri Lankan raksha mask
Those trainers
All photos by Ranji Thangiah
Hey, thank you for subscribing it means so very, very much! 🙏🏾