MA's Kitchen

1985 | A Dream Takes Root

In rural Dambulla, a young couple running a backpackers' lodge kept hearing the same thing from their international guests. They loved Sri Lankan curries but couldn't find the fresh, quality spices to cook them back home. That observation became a business. Rooted in principles the founder had absorbed during an apprenticeship in Japan, among them a genuine care for employees and a belief in long-term relationships, they set up MA's Tropical Food Processing Pvt Ltd. The goal was clear from the start, to bring the authentic taste of Sri Lanka to kitchens around the world.

1986 | Beyond Borders

Within a year, our products were crossing borders. The first international shipment left the Dambulla factory, and the team grew fast to keep pace with demand at home and the new challenge of exporting Sri Lankan flavour to foreign markets.

1995 | Welcome Happy Home

We expanded our family of flavours by acquiring Happy Home. This allowed us to fulfill a long-held goal of providing complete meal solutions, adding chutneys, pickles, and pachadis to our shelves.

2003 | Setting the Standard

We became the first company in Sri Lanka to achieve SQF certification. This formal recognition solidified our long-standing commitment to food safety and rigorous quality systems.

2004 | Organic Expansion

We launched our organic certified range, working directly alongside local farmers to bring traditional growing methods in line with global organic standards.

2006 | Produce of Paradise Joins the Family

With the acquisition of our Minuwangoda facility, Produce of Paradise joined the family. Specializing in premium coconut milk, this addition provided the essential foundation for authentic Asian cuisine, perfectly complementing our existing spice range.

2013 | Healing Through Food

Following the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, we established North Lanka Family Foods Pvt Ltd in the Northern Province, taking over a closed dairy project in Kilinochchi and working directly with local farmers to rebuild disrupted livelihoods. This grew into the Iyakachchi facility, a multi-purpose manufacturing centre built on circular economy principles, producing flavoured milk, edible oils, and peanut butter from locally sourced milk, sesame, and peanuts. It marked the beginning of our most accelerated period of growth.

2014 | Ethical Commitment

Our commitment to ethical sourcing and responsible partnerships was formally recognised through FLOCERT Fair Trade certification, giving customers confidence in the standards behind our supply chain.

2017 | Doubling Down

The Dambulla factory underwent its largest expansion to date, doubling production capacity and introducing new technology to support future growth and innovation.

2018 | Launch of Pepper Valley

The Pepper Valley brand was born in Matale, bringing MA's Kitchen's flavour expertise to premium specialty meat products and demonstrating our versatility across food categories.

2021 | Handcrafted Cheese

North Lanka moved into handcrafted cheese. Drawing on Dutch techniques and combining them with fresh Sri Lankan milk and purpose-built aging rooms, we produced artisanal cheeses that could genuinely hold their own against international benchmarks.

2025 | Four Decades of Excellence

Today, we celebrate 40 years of impact with a renewed promise to be "The Good Company." Through sustainable sourcing and community partnerships, we continue to set the standard for good quality, good food, good people, and good impact As we look toward the future, our mission remains unchanged, sharing the authentic flavours of Sri Lanka with the world, one tasteful moment at a time.