Sri Lankađź•Ł
Country in the southern part of Asia. Official name – the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Population – 21.5 million (as of 2020). Capital – Colombo. Official languages – Sinhala and Tamil. Government type - unitary semi-presidential republic. Main religion – Buddhism.
Sri Lanka
Greeting
In business practice, handshakes are common and should not be too weak or soft; on the contrary, they should be fairly firm. This greeting ritual is also followed by young people in casual communication.
Older generations greet each other according to traditional customs, which vary slightly across different ethnic groups.
The population of Sri Lanka is highly diverse. It includes Sinhalese (the largest ethnic group, about 75%), Tamils (the second largest, around 11%), as well as Sri Lankan Moors, Burghers, and Veddas.
A traditional greeting ritual in these cultures is a gesture similar to the Indian Namaste, in which the palms are placed together at chest level with a slight bow. Differences in this ritual lie in the accompanying verbal expressions exchanged by speakers—for example, Ayubowan is the Sinhalese greeting and Vannakkam is the Tamil one. Both phrases carry the same meaning: "May the Lord grant you a long life."
Men generally shake hands with men, and women with women. Handshakes between men and women are very rare due to religious differences.
If your Sri Lankan partner is accompanied by a group, greet the eldest or highest-ranking person first.
Warmer greetings, such as hugs or kisses, are only appropriate between relatives or people who have known each other well for a long time.
Wait for your partner to suggest addressing them by their first name.
Introduction
Exchange of Business Cards
Exchanging business cards usually takes place after greeting your partners.
Academic degrees, titles, and professional qualifications (if any) should be indicated on the business card.
It would be good to have business cards in Sinhala or Tamil. However, this is not mandatory, as English is the language used for business purposes inside the ...
Small Talk: Overview
First meetings between potential partners in this culture are viewed as an opportunity to get acquainted and build relationships. Small talk, in this context, is an important part of the negotiation process, as your Sri Lankan partners want to know who they are dealing with.
Engage in this conversation. You may be asked not only — and not so much — about your business...
Preferred Topics
Family is an important aspect of life for Sri Lankans, so this topic often comes up in conversation.
Among the questions you may be asked are: “Are you married?”, “Where did you study?”, “When did you graduate from university?”, “Where else have you worked?”
There is also great interest in the regions or countries represented by the people...
Taboo Topics
Politics is a sensitive and complex topic for discussion. Any mention of the Civil War, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, may be especially painful. One of the parties involved in the conflict was the terrorist organization Tamil Tigers, known for their particularly aggressive actions.
Avoid drawing parallels or making comparisons betwe...
Personal Space
The comfortable distance for communication is approximately an arm’s length. Sri Lankans traditionally respect each other’s personal space during conversation.
Physical contact during communication is kept to a minimum, especially in interactions between men and women.
During conversation, people of equal status and position maintain direct eye conta...
Communication Specifics
In Sri Lankan culture, personal relationships are very important. Introductions through third-party recommendations are common. In this country, people prefer to do business primarily with those they trust.
Trust is often built on family ties or shared experiences, such as studying or working together. Nepotism (favoring relatives or friends regardles...
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