Asian specialties conquer Ravensburg: new taste experiences!

Asian specialties conquer Ravensburg: new taste experiences!

A new shop has opened at Herrenstraße 30 in Ravensburg that focuses on Sri Lankan specialties. Wickramaratna Bandara Herath Mudiyanselage, better known as Wick, and his wife Nilmini Subawikrama Gama Arachchige, Nilmini for short, invite locals to discover the flavors of their homeland. Not long ago, they were forced to leave their home country due to the economic turmoil in Sri Lanka. Wick's path initially took him to Italy for twelve years before he moved to Germany with his family in 2018. Now they want to realize their concept here and rely on high-quality products. Claus Lichtner, the store's landlord and previous operator of the Italian delicatessen “Il Tartufo,” was keen to ensure the high-quality product range offered to customers.

The idea of ​​the store arose from a notable interest among Germans in Sri Lankan products. Wick and Nilmini offer a wide selection of food and drinks from their homeland, with the shop open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the door only closed on Sundays. “We not only want to bring people closer to our products, but also inform them about recipes and travel information about Sri Lanka,” emphasizes Wick. Given the economic challenges, they hope to be able to reduce their working hours as cleaners in the near future and concentrate fully on their business.

Challenges and plans for the future

Sri Lanka's history is marked by deep wounds. Decades of civil war and a severe economic crisis have forced many citizens to emigrate. The protests that began in 2021 and culminated in the government crisis in 2022 resulted in the dismissal of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Today, although Sri Lanka is showing signs of recovery, it remains fragile as its economic past casts its shadow. Before the economic collapse, the country suffered from massive inflation and failed economic policies that led to an explosion in food prices, leaving many people living below the poverty line. Current inflation is over 60%, and with over 300,000 emigrations, the fear of a brain drain has become a reality.

Given these circumstances, Wick and Nilmini plan to expand their offerings. They want to include not only Sri Lankan foods, but also Ayurvedic products and handicrafts from Sri Lanka in their range to support the local economy. Advice also plays an important role in giving customers a better understanding of the background and preparation of the products.

A ray of hope in the community

The opening of the business was blessed by a Christian priest, which Wick and Nilmini see as positive, but is completely independent of their Buddhist faith. A strong sense of community and mutual support between the shops on Herrenstrasse give hope for positive development. “Here on Herrenstrasse there is a nice neighborhood where shops support each other,” says Lichtner. The first customers are already enthusiastic about the Sri Lankan delicacies, and the two entrepreneurs hope that the location can establish itself as a contact point for culinary journeys of discovery.

Although the political and economic circumstances in Sri Lanka remain challenging, Wick and Nilmini's efforts to share their roots in Ravensburg show that there are bright perspectives even in difficult times. With their new store they show that solidarity and community spirit can make a difference even across cultural borders.