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Doing business & staying in touch

Businesswear is casual. English is widely spoken in business circles. Appointments are necessary and it is considered polite to arrive punctually. It is usual to exchange business cards on first introduction.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Economy: 

Although some parts of the economy have suffered severe dislocation as a result of the tsunami and civil war, especially the tourist industry, it has performed reasonably well over recent years. This was reflected in the GDP growth rate of 7.4% in 2006. Unemployment was also estimated to be 7.6% in 2006, but inflation reached 13.7%.

Agriculture (including tea, rubber, coconuts) sustains about one-third of the working population and contributes around a fifth of GDP. Forestry and fishing are also important.

The main industrial sectors are mining (gemstones and graphite particularly), and manufacturing (especially cement and textiles). Hydroelectricity is the main source of power, supplemented by imported oil.

In the service sector, tourism has been stunted by the civil war, but banking and insurance have both been performing well. The government is now consolidating its progress with market-oriented policies by implementing further deregulation, fiscal reform and privatisation.

GDP: 

US$96.4 billion (2009).

Main exports: 

Textiles and clothing, tea, spices, rice, sugarcane, precious stones (including diamonds), coconut products and fish.

Main imports: 

Textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, food, machinery and transportation equipment.

Main trading partners: 

India, USA, UK, China (PR) and Singapore.

Staying in touch in Sri Lanka

Telephone: 

Phone cards are available at post offices and shops.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage in the south and west is good; in the north and east it is average.

Internet: 

There are Internet cafés in most towns and resorts.

Post: 

Overseas mail usually takes 10 to 14 days.

Post office hours: 

Mon-fri, 0830-1700, and Sat, 0830-1300.

Media: 

The diverse press is divided along linguistic and ethnic lines. Many broadcasters and publications are state-owned. The Daily News is a state-run English-language daily newspaper, whilst the Daily Mirror is a private English-language daily newspaper. There are various state and privately-run television and radio stations available.

Press: 

• Daily News is a state-run English-language daily.
• Daily Mirror is a private English-language daily.
• The Island is a private English-language daily.
• Lankadeepa is a private Sinhala daily.
• Uthayan Private Tamil-language daily.

Television: 

• Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) is a state-owned network that operates two channels, Rupavahini and Channel Eye.
• Private English-language stations include MTV and TNL.

Radio: 

• Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) is a state-owned network that operates services in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
• Privately owned English radio stations include TNL Rocks, Sun FM and Yes FM.

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