Business Culture and Etiquette in Sri Lanka
- Shaking hands is the most common form of greeting.
- Handshakes are firm.
- Greetings are given upon meeting and leaving.
- Men may shake hands with other men and women may shake hands with other women.
- Many Sri Lankan women may not want to shake hands with men.
Contents
How can I be polite in Sri Lanka?
To say hello to locals join your hands together, smile, and say “Ayubowan”. In fact you should smile at all times. The Sri Lankans are very calm, they never get annoyed in public and they smile whatever the situation. The instruction is the same for everyone, keep cool and keep face.
What is considered rude in Sri Lanka?
It is considered offensive to touch or point to things with one’s feet. Moreover, putting one’s feet up on a sofa or table is considered rude. Head: Sri Lankans consider the head to be the most sacred part of one’s body.
Is kissing illegal in Sri Lanka?
Public displays of affection (PDA), such as kissing and/or hugging, may be frowned upon.Allowances are made for travelers, and holding hands and affection between parents and their children are allowed. Public nudity is illegal in Sri Lanka.
How do Sri Lankans greet people?
The traditional and common greeting is to press the palms of one’s hands together under the chin and in front of the chest while slightly bowing the head. The traditional greeting is often accompanied with the phrase ‘vannakkam’ (in Tamil) or ‘ayubowan’ (in Sinhalese), which means “may you be blessed with a long life”.
Do men hold hands in Sri Lanka?
Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon in Sri Lanka. Leniency is usually shown to tourists and holding hands and affection towards children is ok, but anything more overt is likely to cause offence.
What is family life like in Sri Lanka?
In the extended family concept, three or four generations live together, usually from the male side. In most Sri Lankan families, the mother or the woman of the household has authority and is respected by all the children. On the other hand, the father or the eldest son is the patriarch.
What should I avoid in Sri Lanka?
13 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Sri Lanka, Ever
- Don’t disrespect religion.
- Don’t turn your back on a Buddha statue.
- Don’t compare Sri Lanka to India.
- Don’t get carried away in public.
- Don’t take snaps without asking first.
- Don’t try to check into a hotel with no beds.
- Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
How do you say hello in Sri Lanka?
Essential Sinhalese Phrases
- Hello – “Ayubowan” Aayu-bo-wan.
- Thank you very much – “Bohoma Istuti” Bo-hoh-mah Iss-too-tee.
- Please – “Karunakara” Karu-nah-kara.
- I don’t understand – “Mata Terinneh Neh” Mata Terenne Na.
- Do you speak English – “Oyate Ingrisi Katha Karanna Puluwanda” Oyate Ingrisi Ka-tha Karanna Pulu-wanda.
Do foreigners like Sri Lanka?
Some people will tell you that Sri Lanka’s people, right alongside Thai people, are the friendliest in the world. Many foreigners that visit often or stay on the island for a long time fall in love with its people pretty quickly and may also start new families.
What religion is Sri Lanka?
Theravada Buddhism is the official religion of Sri Lanka, with about 70.2% of the country’s population as followers. Arahath Mahinda, son of Indian Buddhist emperor Ashoka, led the mission to Sri Lanka in 246 BCE when he converted the Sri Lankan king, Devanampiya Tissa, to Buddhism.
Can I kiss in public in Sri Lanka?
Young couples in Sri Lanka are now afraid to even hold hands or kiss in public after police rounded up over 300 people for “indecent behaviour”. “Kissing, cuddling and holding hands in public places are indecent behaviour,” police spokesman Preshantha Jayakody was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
What language is spoken in Sri Lanka?
SinhalaTamilSinhalese language, also spelled Singhalese or Cingalese, also called Sinhala, Indo-Aryan language, one of the two official languages of Sri Lanka.
Why do Sri Lankans eat with hands?
It is expected that everyone will wash their hands before serving food and eating a meal. It is common for Sri Lankans to eat food with their hands.Eating all the food on your plate indicates that you are still hungry. If you are given another serving but do not want to eat it, it is acceptable to leave it untouched.
What is the famous food in Sri Lanka?
12 foods you should try in Sri Lanka — from sour fish curry to coconut relish
- Fish ambul thiyal (sour fish curry)
- Kottu (also, kottu roti)
- Kukul mas curry (chicken curry)
- Parippu (dhal curry)
- Lamprais.
- Hoppers (appa or appam)
- Polos (green jackfruit curry)
- Wambatu moju (eggplant/brinjals pickle)
How do you say welcome in Sri Lanka?
You will be understood everywhere you go.
Basic expressions / Common Words.
| English | Cinghalais |
|---|---|
| I understand / I don’t understand | Maṭa taeraenavaā / Mata thayrennay nehe |
| Sorry | Samaāva |
| Goodbye | Ayubowan |
| Welcome | Paiḷaigaænaīmae |
What do Sri Lanka people wear?
Traditions and dresses of Sri Lanka have been passed down by ancestors for decades. Most popular items of clothing consist of the sari or wrap-around skirt with a blouse for women and sarong for men, though the traditional dress for women is more complicated, it is more straightforward, smart and cleaner for men.
What is the legal age to get married in Sri Lanka?
18
The minimum age of marriage in Sri Lanka is 18.
Can you marry your cousin in Sri Lanka?
It is a (Hindu) custom among Tamil Hindus throughout Sri Lanka to marry first cousins.The children of two sisters or two brothers are not considered first cousins but siblings (cousin-sister and cousin-brother) and therefore these children cannot marry.
How can I marry a foreigner in Sri Lanka?
REQUIREMENTS
- Duly completed ETA Tourist Visa application form.
- Passport with two unused visa pages (validity should be at least six months from the date you arrive in Sri Lanka)
- Copy of Passport (Data page/Photo page)
- Two recent photographs -passport size- taken within last 6 months.
- Relevant visa fee.
Is Sri Lanka poor?
In terms of World Bank estimates of per capita GDP Sri Lanka is a poor country indeed: twenty-fifth from the bottom of their list of 125 countries.Income distribution is considerably less unequal than in most developing countries.
