Sri Lanka Local Customs

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Language problems?

by mafi_moya

Modern Sri Lanka has three official languages. A key argument after independence was over the promotion of the Sinhala language over Tamil - now both are recognised as national languages. Most tourists will come across Sinhala far more frequently than Tamil as it's the dominant language in the south and west (as well as much of the east). Bus signs and so on are generally given in both. While many Tamils in Colombo and around have needed to learn Sinhala, relatively few Sinhalese speak more than a few words of Tamil. I don't really know enough about Tamil to pass judgement, but to me Sinhala is one of the most difficult languages I've ever come across (far more so than Chinese, Arabic etc) and I have to admit my Sinhala is pretty non-existent. Tourists are further put off from learning it by the fact that outside of Sri Lanka it's relatively useless. Sorry guys, but it is!So it's...

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Lover's Rocks

by mafi_moya

Despite what you might think after seeing what the teenage girls wear in Odel in Colombo at the weekend, Sri Lanka is still a very conservative country when it comes to sex and relationships. It's expected that sex comes after marriage and young couples are often chaperoned by parents and grandparents - holding hands in public is considered quite a commitment, kissing a definite no-no. Of course that's the theory anyway, if not always the reality, and young couples often find it difficult to spend time alone together.Which is why, sat on rocks by the sea all around the country, you'll see hundreds of couples sat together, usually under cover of a large umbrella. Coming from more liberal countries it's quite a sweet sight (aah the romantic in me is coming out!) Of course most couples are just talking and getting to know each other without the hassles of parental interference - but some...

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A match made in the stars

by mafi_moya

Sri Lankans of all classes are absolutely obsessed with horoscopes. Your star sign defines your career, your future, your wealth, but more than anything else, who you will marry.Newspapers are full of personal ads looking for marriage ("Beautiful and intelligent female, 28, looking for marriage to educated professional" and so on) and it's a perfectly socially acceptable way to find a partner. But at the end of each advert will come the words "Bring horoscope." Your daughter could be proposed to by the man of her dreams, an ideal son-in-law - a doctor from a wealthy family with a big house and six figure salary. But if his horoscope doesn't match hers he could just as well be a homeless beggar. In the UK many people, especially women, have a look at their stars to see what the future might bring. But Sri Lankans take it to a whole other level.

Poya Day

by mafi_moya

The most common holiday is the monthly 'poya day' - one day a month where no-one works and everything is shut in respect of the full moon. Alcohol can't be bought anywhere on poya days - some tourist hotels may have special licences - so stock up in advance if you want a drink. You often see big queues outside wine stores the day before and arguments when all the shops sell out!I tended to spend most poya days either at the beach or at a party. Both involved lots of alcohol and a very long day. The general attitude is: we should be at work today but we're not so let's celebrate like it's our only day off all year! When poya falls is entirely dependent on the moon so people get extremely annoyed when it falls on a Sunday, which they would normally have off anyway!

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Holiday time!

by mafi_moya

Working in Sri Lanka is great - it has the most public holidays of any country in the world! The religious and ethnic mix of the country means that Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian holidays are all celebrated to varying degrees. There's even a monthly day off called poya to celebrate the full moon!Biggest of all are the major Buddhist festivals, such as Vesak the New Year celebrations, when much of the country just packs work in and goes on holiday. But Ramadan, Christmas and Diwali are all seized upon as chance of a day or more off work - any excuse for a holiday! And besides, in a country with ethnic problems it all adds to the appreciation of other cultures. The most famous Sri Lankan holiday is the Perahera season, usually in August. The biggest is the Esala Perahera in Kandy - thousands of people, drummers, dancers, stilt-walkers, jugglers, and dozens of decorated elephants...

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Henna, Ramadan

by suemac

My visit to Sri lanka coinsided with the end of the Muslim festival of Ramadan. I was invited by some Muslim friends to join the ladies for the tradition of henna painting their hands, feet and nails. One of the ladies had prepared the henna plant into a kind of mash. Then one of the girls with the aid of a cocktail stick placed little pieces in a pattern on my palms and also covered my toe nails . I then had to sit for 2 hours, with the group of ladies who had the same thing done, until the dye took. We chatted about the usual things, children and husbands! 8 months later and there is still some to grow out of my toe nails, its summer in the UK , sandal wearing time, some people must think I have a nail infection!

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The lamp-lighting ceremony

by Saagar

I find the lamp-lighting ceremony so nice. Before you do anything significant in the family or at the inauguration of something or a welcome or an opening of a meeting, the wicks are lighted on this brass lamp with the cock at the top. All it's significance is now lost on me, I just know that this focusses people and calms everything down before the happening.I liked it so much that I went to the market and bought myself one.

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Mask dance at your expense

by Saagar

You might come across a special performance of this mask dance/improvised theatre that pokes fun with fellow villagers, their special habits, love life and family disputes etc. Especially love life and husband-wife relations are popular. If you are in the audience, be sure they will have a word to tell about foreign visitors and their habits, too! Just plain fun - at your expense!

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Sinhala new year

by Oscar_Nonis

if you will travel in Sri lanka around Sinhla - tamil new year time you can taste some of traditional sweets.if you can visit one of Sri lankan house at this time, they will ask you to have some new year foods.April 13 and 14 are special days. but its going some more days.try some Kawum, kokis, athirasa, mun kawum etc

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Laces like in Netherlands!

by tommix

It was a big surprise for me! The lacemaking is quite widespread custom in Sri Lanka. Particulary in the regions of Galle and Anuradhapura. Of course it's not a indigenous art but an heritage of centuries of Dutch presence on the island. In colonial times local ladies taught the lacemaking from their Dutch counterparts. With the time they included in they work local patterns like jasmin flowers or fruits. But still you can find laces with the original Dutch design. It's really amazing to see these ladies making laces using crochet or much more complicated proceeding with a special wooden roller - the pattern is pricked out with the pins on a thick strip of paper, which is fixed onto the roll with wooden bobins attached to the top. The thread is woven around the pins to form the patterns. They are making beautyful tablemats, lece dollies etc. And it's much cheaper then in Netherlands!

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Local traditions and culture in Sri Lanka

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Local Customs: Cities in Sri Lanka
  1. Colombo Local Customs
  2. Kandy Local Customs
  3. Negombo Local Customs
  4. Nuwara Eliya Local Customs
  5. Galle Local Customs
  6. Unawatuna Local Customs
  7. Anuradhapura Local Customs
  8. Sri Lanka Local Customs
  9. Polonnaruwa Local Customs
  10. Sigiriya Local Customs
  11. Dambulla Local Customs
  12. Beruwala Local Customs
  13. Wadduwa Local Customs
  14. Kataragama Local Customs
  15. Induruwa Local Customs

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Popular Regions in Sri Lanka

Western Province Local Customs  Southern Province Local Customs  Central Province Local Customs  North Central Province Local Customs  North Eastern Province Local Customs  Province of Uva Local Customs  Province of Sabaragamuwa Local Customs  North Western Province Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka in the end of March for 3 weeks. I will go with my 6 yr old. Will take Medical precoushns bu... 

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A: Any special reasons why you want to stay in Colombo for 3 days. Everywhere in Sri Lanka is child friendly, but as you want to end up in Trinco (and spend part of your... 

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