Jinadasa Thala guli

Few Sri Lankan food traditions have endured as quietly and confidently as the sesame ball — the thala guli. For more than eighty years, one family name has been synonymous with this small, dense confection: Jinadasa. Founded in 1934 by Mr. K. P. Jinadasa in the Warakapola area of the Kegalle District, Jinadasa Thala Guli has grown from a single roadside stall into a multi-branch operation, while keeping its recipes firmly rooted in traditional Ayurvedic practice.

What is Thala Guli and why is it significant in Sri Lankan food culture?

Thala guli translates directly as "sesame ball" — a compact round sweet made primarily from sesame seeds (thala) bound together with jaggery or treacle. The sesame seed has been cultivated across South and Southeast Asia for thousands of years, valued both as a food and as a medicinal ingredient in Ayurveda. In Sri Lanka, thala guli sits within a broader category of traditional sweets, alongside treats like kokis and pani kadju, that are prepared for festivals, religious observances, and everyday snacking alike.

The Jinadasa version follows recipes that the family has refined across three generations. The brand positions its products not simply as confectionery but as nutritionally grounded foods prepared according to traditional medicinal guidance — a claim that resonates strongly with consumers seeking alternatives to heavily processed sweets.

What is the history of Jinadasa Thala Guli?

Mr. K. P. Jinadasa established the business in 1934, operating from the Kandy Road corridor in the Warakapola area — a stretch of highway that has long connected Colombo to Kandy and carried heavy foot and vehicle traffic. His timing was shrewd: travellers along that route needed provisions, and a durable, energy-dense sweet like thala guli travelled well and kept without refrigeration.

Over the following decades the business passed through the family, accumulating what the brand describes as "the pride of eight decades with tradition." Today it operates its head office and a hotel at the original Mahena, Warakapola location, alongside two branch outlets in Abeypussa and Pilimatalawa — a spread that places it conveniently along the main Colombo–Kandy corridor.

Where are the Jinadasa Thala Guli branches located?

The business maintains three locations, all accessible from the A1 Colombo–Kandy highway:

General enquiries can also be sent to [email protected]. The Pilimatalawa branch, being closest to Kandy, makes a convenient stop when visiting the Kandy city area.

What products does Jinadasa Thala Guli make?

The signature product is the thala bola — a compact sesame ball roughly the size of a large marble, sold in boxes of 25 cubes. The recipe relies on high-quality sesame seeds processed with traditional binding agents. Because the ingredients are shelf-stable and the product requires no refrigeration, thala bola travel well and are a popular edible souvenir for visitors leaving Sri Lanka.

Beyond the sesame ball, the brand produces a range of traditional sweets, beverages, and food items prepared using what the family describes as Ayurvedic-influenced recipes. The broader menu at the head-office hotel includes freshly prepared Sri Lankan dishes, making it a functional stop for a meal as well as a sweet purchase.

How does Jinadasa Thala Guli fit into Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic food tradition?

Sesame is well documented in Ayurvedic texts as a warming, strengthening food — high in calcium, iron, and healthy fats. Traditional preparation methods preserve these properties by avoiding excessive heat and artificial additives. Jinadasa's stated mission is to offer foods, beverages, and sweets "prepared using traditional medicinal recipes" that are nutritious for all family members. Whether or not every product meets a formal Ayurvedic standard, the philosophy reflects a genuine strand of Sri Lankan food culture in which the boundary between nourishment and medicine has historically been blurred.

This approach places Jinadasa Thala Guli in interesting company alongside products like kitul treacle, which is similarly rooted in traditional processing methods and valued for its lower glycaemic properties compared to refined sugar.

How do I get to Jinadasa Thala Guli from Colombo?

The head office in Mahena, Warakapola sits roughly 70 km northeast of Colombo along the A1 highway. By private car or taxi the drive takes around 90 minutes depending on traffic, which can be heavy on weekends and public holidays. The location is well-signed along the Kandy Road and is a natural halfway stop for travellers making the Colombo–Kandy journey. Those travelling by bus from Colombo's Bastian Mawatha terminal towards Kandy pass through Warakapola directly.

Is Jinadasa Thala Guli available to buy online?

Lakpura lists the Jinadasa Thala Bola in packs of 25 cubes for international and domestic delivery, making it possible to order the product without visiting the physical stores. This is particularly useful for travellers who want to carry the sweets home as gifts but lack time to stop along the Kandy Road during their itinerary.