Greeting
‘Ayubowan’ (may you have long life) is the traditional welcome greeting among the Sinhalese, said with the hands folded upwards in front of the chest. You should respond the same gesture.

Conduct
Cleanliness and modesty are appreciated even in informal situations. Nudity and topless bathing are a taboo. Displays of intimacy are not considered suitable in public and will probably draw unwanted attention. Women in rural areas do not normally shake hands with men as this form of contact is not traditionally acceptable between acquaintances.
Use your right hand for giving, taking, eating or shaking hands as the left is considered to be unclean.

Visiting religious sites
Visitors to Buddhist and Hindu temples are welcome though the shrines of Hindu temples are sometimes closed to non-Hindus. Visitors should be dressed decently – skirts or long trousers – shorts and swimwear are not suitable. Shoes should be left at the entrance and heads should be uncovered. In some Hindu temples, especially in the North, men will be expected to remove their shirts.
Do not attempt to shake hands with Buddhist monks. Monks are not permitted to touch money so donations should be put in temple offering boxes. Monks renounce all material possessions and so live on offerings. Visitors may offer flowers at the feet of the Buddha.
Mosques may be closed to non-Muslims shortly before prayers. In mosques, women should be covered from head to ankle.

Begging
The sight of beggars especially near religious sites can be very disturbing. A coin to one child or a destitute woman on the street will make you the focus of demanding attention from a large number before long. You may want to give to a registered charity rather than individual handouts.

Photography
Do not attempt to be photographed with Buddhist monks or to pose for photos with statues of the Buddha or other deities and paintings. Photography is prohibited in certain sections of the sacred sites as well as in sensitive areas such as airports, dams and military areas.

Originally posted 2008-08-07 13:35:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter