From Thambuththegama to the UK
View(s):- Winning significant awards in 2025, Pethum Tharuka Hettiarachchi is fast making
his mark as a sugarcraft artist on the international scene
Artistic flair: Pethum with one of his artistic cakes and on our cover, one of his creations, showing him at work
It has been a hectic year for Pethum Tharuka Hettiarachchi, fast being recognised as one of Britain’s most promising young sugarcraft artists. That he began his culinary journey in Thambuththegama, a rural village in the Anuradhapura district makes his creative skills all the more remarkable.
Chocolate creations, above and below
Growing up as the son of a hardworking mushroom farmer, Pethum’s childhood was shaped by limited resources. Opportunities in the culinary arts were nearly non-existent in his region. At Thambuththegama National College, he balanced academics with long daily commutes, and household responsibilities. Determined to support his family and save for his future studies, while completing his A’Ls, he took on work in catering during after school hours, making fruit and vegetable carvings that revealed a talent far beyond his years.
These were challenging times, but they forged in him the qualities that would later define his artistry: discipline, precision, and a refusal to give up.
Entering the hospitality field, he learned the art of making sugar flowers, chocolate sculpture, doing decorative pastry work and artistic carving. At the Culinary Art Food Expo Sri Lanka 2023, he won several medals: Gold – Artistic Pastry Showpiece (Sugar), Silver – Artistic Chocolate Showpiece, Silver – Artistic Showpiece (Dough), Silver – Live Fruit & Vegetable Carving and Bronze – Live Individual Ice Carving.
Leaving Sri Lanka was both the biggest decision and the greatest challenge of his life. Moving to the UK meant confronting fierce competition, cultural shifts, financial constraints and the pressure of starting from nothing.
But success on the global stage came far earlier than anticipated. At Cake International – Birmingham 2024, one of the world’s most prestigious sugarcraft showcases, Pethum won several awards: Best in Class – Gold for Miniature Decorative Exhibit, Gold – Miniature Exhibit (Chocolate), Bronze – Miniature Exhibit (Sugar), and Bronze – Small Decorative Exhibit.
On the international stage: Pethum with Steve Munkley, Director International of Salon Culinary London and on his right, Jan Thorpe, Chairman of the British Sugarcraft Guild.
He followed this with success at the International Salon Culinaire – London 2024, where he carried away two Golds for Miniature Exhibit (Chocolate) and Small Decorative Exhibit (Chocolate), excelling among Europe’s best.
A string of awards have followed in 2025. At the International Salon Culinaire – London 2025, among thousands of competitors from across Europe, Pethum earned honours that many seasoned professionals would envy: Winner – Professional Cake Decorator of the Year, multiple Best in Class Gold Medals and Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals in floral sugarcraft, celebration cakes, chocolate art, and miniature exhibits Judges praised his botanical realism, artistic balance and “fine-art quality craftsmanship rarely seen in an artist so young.”
At the British Culinary Championships 2025, he has achieved medals in fruit and vegetable carving, and at the British Sugarcraft Guild National Sugarcraft Show – 2025, he was awarded Silver and Bronze medals across miniature and floral categories.
The Scottish Culinary Championships in Glasgow saw Pethum win Best in Class – Gold for Floral Sugarcraft Corsage, Silver for Floral Sugarcraft Plant and Silver for Chocolate Showpiece.
Cake International – Birmingham 2025, the biggest international cake show saw him carry away the Gold for Decorative Exhibit and more medals for Floral Display.
Pethum’s creations stand out not only for their technique, but for their heart.
Today, the young man from Thambuththegama is a mentor to young chefs, an active member of the British Sugarcraft Guild, Craft Guild of Chefs, British Culinary Federation and Sri Lankan
chef associations.
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