Awards have been handed over to the winners of the Culinary Challenge in the Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge.

The culinary challenge included a total of 25 competitions, with first, second and third place winners.

Sri Lankan and Indian chefs won the most prizes in the competition. Chefs from Maldives, Nepal and Bangladesh also won some prizes.

Fathimath Zumya of Maldives National University (MNU) was named the third best young chef of the competition while she was also named the most promising chef in Maldives.

Barun Kumar of Lux resort was named the best chef of the challenge. Kasun Madhushanka of Huvafenfushi resort was named the best pastry chef.

Winners of the culinary challenge.

The best culinary establishment of the competition "Alan Palmer Challenge Trophy" went to Velassaru Maldives resort. The Best Artist award went to Sisira Kumara of Reethi Beach resort.

Maldives won first place in the low waste category with the award going to Ismail Thahseen.

Ismail Thahseen won the low waste category among the categories. He also won the award for the best chef in Maldives.

Mohamed Muaz of Waldorf Astoria resort won second place in the Hot Cooking - Poultry competition. Ali Samau Saeed of Four Season Kudahura resort won the third place in the Desserts competition.

Muaz's team also won second place in the team challenge while Ismail Thahseen won third place in the Maldivian Dish competition.

A Sri Lankan chef won first place in the Maldivian Dish competition while a Bangladeshi chef won second place.