The chili pepper, is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family. Chilli is one of the most important cash crops grown in Sri Lanka, and is an essential ingredient in the Sri Lankan diet.

The substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically, are capsaicin and several related chemicals, collectively called capsaicinoids.

A large extent under chilli is cultivated in the dry zone especially in north central province and the intermediate zone. At present, major chilli growing districts are Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Ampara, Puttalam, Vavuniya, Kurunegala, Hambantota and Mahaweli System H.