The Ministry Of Crab

The Ministry of Crab is assigned to an experience of Chef Dharshan Munidasa’s TV program “Culinary Journeys with Dharshan”, which highlighted the Sri Lankan Lagoon Crab, showcasing how it was sourced in Sri Lanka and exported to Singapore to be built into the legendary Singapore Chilli Crab. Throughout this shoot, the initial idea of creating a crab restaurant was born, as a culinary homecoming for this majestic crustacean, which had long been more renowned overseas than in Sri Lanka When brainstorming signatures for a Crab restaurant in its land of origin, Dharshan felt it was essential to have a mighty institution-like name; and so, the title, “Ministry of Crab” was established.
The next step was to obtain a location fit to house the restaurant, and the research began for a “Ministerial” space. Luckily, the well-known Dutch Hospital construction became available due to a new refurbishment design of colonial structures by the Urban Development Authority as part of the post-war expansion. Cricketing titles Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara, who were close colleagues with Dharshan, stepped into partnership with him when he put forth the idea for a restaurant dedicated to seafood, giving inspiration to their own gastronomic goals. Their allegiance towards bringing the restaurant to life by using it as a platform to pay respect to local produce gathered all of them the monikers, “Ministers of Crab”.