From Detention to the Dinner Table: Nige’s Feast for Freedom Story

For Nigethan “Nige” Sithirasegaram, the scent of a roasting curry isn’t just a kitchen aroma – it’s a memory, a lifeline and a radical act of survival.

A fourth-generation fisherman from the coastal town of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Nige’s early life was defined by the ocean. He grew up swimming at long, open beaches and eating fresh fish almost every day. But his peaceful life in the fishing village ended when his family was targeted during the civil war. After surviving arrests at sea and being held at gunpoint, Nige fled to Australia in 2009, seeking nothing more than safety.

Instead, he found himself in the indefinite detention system for six long years. It was in this “lonely, frightening and deeply dehumanising” environment that Nige did something unexpected: he began to cook.

In Sri Lanka, Nige had never cooked; it was traditionally a space for women. But missing the flavours of home, he began calling his wife and mother from detention. Over the phone, they would guide him through recipes, teaching him how to balance spices and pour coconut milk by sense alone.

“I would think about my wife’s food, my mum’s food,” Nige recalls. “Every day, I would cook and cook and keep learning.” What started as a way to find normalcy became a bridge to the community. He shared his meals with other people in detention and even the officers told him his cooking made them hungry.

Since his release in 2015, Nige has become a culinary force in Melbourne. From cooking for people at Tamil Feasts to teaching classes on how to cook Tamil cuisine, he has turned his experiences into a professional career.

Today, Nige is a 2026 Feast for Freedom Hero Cook. He shares recipes that were once only stored in his heart – like his auntie’s chai butter cake. These dishes are more than just food; they are “medicine” filled with healthy ingredients like turmeric, ginger and garlic.

Nige now lives in Melbourne’s north with his son, but he remains separated from his wife. He cooks with the hope that one day, he will finally be able to serve her a meal in their own home in Australia.

When people eat his food, they often tell him, “My belly is laughing.” It’s a compliment that makes him beam with pride. 

By hosting a Feast for Freedom, you are celebrating Nige’s resilience and ensuring the ASRC can continue supporting people seeking safety as they rebuild their lives.

[Register Your Feast for Freedom Today]