Sri Lanka

Greetings

The ethnic composition consists of the main races Sinhalese, Tamil & Muslims, and greetings tend to differ between the three. The Sinhalese greeting is 'Ayubowan' with the hands pressed together at chest level. Tamils tend to greet with 'Wanakkam' and Muslims greet with the usual 'Asalam Wallekkum'. Ratio wise, the Sinhalese consist of 82% of the population. Therefore the most commonly used is 'Ayubowan' and is widely accepted as the Sri Lankan greeting. 'Wannakkam' is also widely used next to 'Ayubowan', especially when talking to a Tamil person.

Men greeting Men - Light handshakes are common with members of the younger generation in most business situations.

Women greeting Women - Light handshakes are common with members of the younger generation in most business situations.

Greeting between Men & Women - In business and formal situations, light handshakes are common, but it is best for men to wait to see if the woman extends her hand first, if at all. Many women will refrain from having physical contact with men who they are not related to when in public.

Hugs and kisses as a form of greeting should be avoided.

Communication Style

• People generally avoid confrontation and being rude to one another, so speaking indirectly helps facilitate this.
• When communicating it’s often the case that people will tell you what you want to hear in order to be polite. It’s best to be patient and see what non-verbal actions follow the communication.
• Saving face is paramount, so avoid outwardly criticizing people in public situations.

Personal Space & Touch

• An arm’s length of personal space is usually the norm for any formal/business communication. This space tends to be greater when dealing with members of the opposite sex.
• For members of the same sex, holding hands, touching the arm, or putting hands around shoulders is acceptable, except in formal situations or with strangers. For opposite sexes, it is not generally acceptable to touch in public.
• Younger generations nowadays tend to be more western in their approach.

Eye Contact

• Direct eye contact is generally the norm. Some exceptions include interactions with traditional Muslims of the opposite sex. Many women may avoid a man's eyes during conversation as well.

Gestures

• It is common to remove one's shoes at places of worship, when visiting people's homes, and even in certain shops and businesses. A good rule to follow is if you see shoes arranged near the door, take yours off as well.
• Most people beckon one another by extending an arm and making a scratching motion with their fingers, palm facing down.
• One usually always eats with the right hand as the left hand is considered unclean. Same goes for giving and receiving objects and shaking hands.
• The head wobble, which is very common throughout the country can mean "yes" and not "no". It depends on the angle and expression and the speed to determine which is which.

Views of Time

• Time is viewed in a relaxed sense by most people in the country. While it is a good idea to show up on time for appointments and meetings, it is also a good idea to bring along something to read as you may be kept waiting.
• Trains and buses don’t always run on time and people tend to give their time freely for the most part.

Taboos

• Lewd behavior and even simple PDA (public displays of affection) are highly frowned upon.

• Avoid touching people or moving/passing objects with your shoes.

• Avoid touching or sitting on any image of the Buddha.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age is 18 and it is not heavily enforced.
• Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Dress

• Dress is quite conservative for both men and women.
• For men: conservative, dark colored suits. Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off if possible.
• For women: conservative business suits or dresses and blouses are appropriate. Avoid tight fitting, short shirts, and sleeveless attire. Dresses should not reveal too much of the legs and traditional dress like the “salwar kameez” or “sari” is acceptable.
• Dress in hotter seasons and parts of the country tends to be less formal.
• Jeans and business casual attire are not recommended for a first meeting.

Titles & Business Cards

• Business cards are usually exchanged after an initial handshake and greeting.
• Titles and qualifications are important so be sure to add them to your card.
• Having one side of your business card translated into Sinhala or Tamil is a nice touch but not crucial.
• Always present your business card with two hands.
• Treat people's business cards with respect - so keep don't put them into pockets, draw on them or use them in any manner that may be disrespectful.

Meetings

• Personal relationships are extremely important for business so allocating some time for small talk vs. business talk at the beginning of meeting is a good idea
• First meetings are often used solely to build a relationship and conduct business. a company should be approached as purely a relationship building exercise.
• It is common for meetings to be interrupted (often several times) by other business. This is not usually viewed as rude.
• Hierarchy is very important m resulting in decision making to be a top-down process. Decisions tend to take time and are not usually made quickly unless the decision maker is in the room.

Negotiations

• Maintaining face is important for all communication, so it's best to not put people in awkward positions or under pressure and never openly criticize people.
• Most Sri Lankans are very non-confrontational in their communication style and it is important to try and read between the lines. They may say one thing but mean another and it is up to the listener to work out the message.
• Watch for long pauses, avoidance of eye contact or blatant tactics of evasion.
• Initial meetings will usually take place with middle ranking personnel who gather information to present to the decision maker. Getting to the decision maker through them is based on establishing good rapport and having a solid proposal.

Gift Giving

• Avoid flowers as they are used in mourning.
• Only give alcohol if you are sure the recipient drinks.
• White or black are the colors of funerals and mourning.
• If the recipient is Muslim avoid pig products, alcohol or any foodstuffs that contain meat (unless "halal")
• Hindus should not be given gifts made of leather..
• Give and receive gifts with two hands. To demonstrate graciousness, some Sri Lankans will touch their right forearm with their left hand while offering the gift with their right hand.
• Gifts are generally not opened when received.
• Any gift received should be reciprocated.