‘Corn Festival’ (alias “Corn Fiesta”) is an annual event organized by the students who are specializing in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology under B.Sc. in Science and Technology degree programme. This event is dedicated to showcase the corn based food items developed by the students aiming to popularize the consumption of corn in Sri Lanka.
Corn is the third most important crop in the world that provides one of the most balanced serial meals. Corn contains all the essential nutrients and dietary fibers to serve the daily needs of a person. However, corn has less importance as a main food in Sri Lanka compared to the popular choice of rice. The annual demand for corn in Sri Lankan is about 125,000 metric tons out of which 75,000 metric tons are produced locally. Corn finds its main utilization as an animal feed in Sri Lanka and its true potential as a staple food is yet to be realized.
Students of Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology specialization conduct experiments under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Kolitha Wijesekara, Senior Lecturer, Department of Science and Technology, to develop corn based food products in order to popularize the utilization of corn in Sri Lanka. Corn festival presents various corn based cuisines prepared in Sri Lankan style and provides novel food ideas to suit the typical Sri Lankan life style.
‘Corn Festival 2015’ was held on August 12, 2015 at the Uva Wellassa University with the participation of staff members of the Faculty of Science and Technology and students of Science and Technology Degree Program. There were over thirty novel food items on display for the present year’s corn festival and the event presented a great opportunity to the participants to enjoy an all-corn-meal.