Greeting

In business practice it is common to shake hands, which should not be too weak and soft, but on the contrary, strong enough. This is also the greeting ritual used by young people.

The elders greet each other according to their own cultural greeting, which varies slightly from one ethnic group to another.

The Sri Lankan population is very heterogeneous, consisting of the Sinhalese (the largest ethnic group, about 75%), the Tamils (the second largest, about 11%), the Lankan Moors, the Burghers and the Veddas. The official and national languages of Sri Lanka are accordingly Sinhala and Tamil.

The traditional greeting ritual in these cultures is the Indian Namaste-like gesture of putting the palms of one's hands together at breast level and bowing slightly. The differences in the ritual of greeting relate to the verbal expressions accompanying the Namaste that are exchanged, e.g., ayubowan -the greeting of the Sinhalese and vannakkam -the Tamil. Both phrases have the same meaning -"May God grant you a long life."

Men generally shake hands with men, and women with women. Handshakes between men and women are very rare because of religious differences.

If there are several people at your partner's side in Sri Lanka, first say hello to the one older or higher in status.

Weteretermer greeting rituals, such as hugs and kisses, are only possible between relatives or people who have known each other long well.

Wait until your partner suggests you call him/her by his/her name.

Introduction

Exchange of Business Cards

Exchange of business cards usually takes place after greeting the partners.

The degrees, titles and professional qualifications (if any) should be indicated on the business card.

It is good if you prepare business cards with text in Sinhala or Tamil. This is not necessary as English is the language of international and inter-ethnic communication. Anything you can give (including your business card) with your right hand or both hands when you receive it, and use your right hand when you receive it too.

In Sri Lanka people respect business cards. When you receive a business card when you greet someone, do not write on it, take notes, fold it, or put it in your pocket.

Small Talk: Overview

The first meetings between potential partners are treated in this culture as introductions and building relationships. Small talk is an important part of the negotiation process because it is important for your Sri Lankan partners to know who they are dealing with. They will probably ask you not only  not so much about your business, but about you, your life, your family. You may find some of the questions too personal and irrelevant. Be patient and think your honest answers will help you build lasting business relationships.

We respond well to questions that are soft, sensitive, polite, and humble, and avoid tensions and conflicts. Don't raise your voice, and control your expressions, especially negative ones such as anger, rage, or frustration. In this culture it will be seen as a loss of self-control.

With other modern means of communication, direct contact is most valuable.

Preferred Topics

Family is an important part of Lankan life, so it is also a topic they often bring up in conversation: "Are you married?", "Where did you study?", "When did you graduate?", "Where else did you work?"

The regions or countries the speakers represent are also of great interest. A wide range of topics are discussed, including local food, traditions, holidays, events  etc.

A great topic of conversation is cricket, it s very popular. Many Lankans play the game themselves or love to watch others play it.

A great topic of conversation is cricket.

Taboo Topics

Politics is a difficult subject to discuss. Any mention of the Civil War, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, would be particularly painful. One of the parties to the conflict was the terrorist organization, the Tamil Tigers, which was especially violent in its activities.

Don't make parallels or compare Sri Lanka to  India, it might sound insulting to your colleague from that country. Sri Lankans take great pride in their ancient history and culture.

Religion and everything related to it, is one of the most  sensitive subjects, which  should not be touched under any circumstances. Sri Lanka is home to people of many different religions--Hindu, Muslim, and Christian-Catholic--but the vast majority (over 75%) are Theravada Buddhists.

The issues of sexual relations and particularly jokes should be kept out of the secular sphere.

Personal Space

The distance for comfortable communication is an arm's length. Lankans traditionally respect each other's privacy during conversation.

Personal contact in the course of conversation is kept to a minimum. This is particularly true in situations in which both men and women are interviewed.

In conversation, peers in status and position make direct eye contact with one another. This contact is minimal between genders.

When people shake their heads from side to side (not turning, but tilting alternately to right and left), it is often interpreted by other cultures as "no." In fact, this movement is multi-purpose and can mean anything from a silent "yes" or "thank you" to simply showing that the other person is listening (but not necessarily agreeing).

Communication Specifics

In Sri Lankan culture, relationships are very important. Dating on the recommendation of third parties is widespread. In Sri Lanka people do business together primarily with people they trust.

The basis of trust between people is family ties as well as years of study or work together. Nepotism, the policy of favoring relatives or friends regardless of their professional qualities, occurs in all walks of life.

In this culture respects and even honors older people. They should be the first people you speak to and it's important to listen to their opinions.

In a conversation your Lankan partners will avoid difficult issues even if they are important. They will prefer soft, streamlined remarks to criticisms that can cause them to lose face.

If you really need to find out how your Lankan colleague feels about a particular subject, don't put the question in a box and make him respond positively or (especially) negatively. On the contrary, opt for open-ended questions that allow for a variety of answers. It's important to watch your intonation and body movements in order to better understand your interlocutor's true mood.