AIESEC SRI LANKA The Reception Booklet
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
INDEX - Introduction - Sri Lanka (Summery) o Population o Religion o Geography o Climate o Ecology and Environment o Flora and Fauna o Government and Politics o Peace process o Economy - Colombo - Arts - Food - Sri Lanka – useful links - Useful Information o Banks and Money o Cost Of Living & Local Prices o Tipping o Recommendations o Transport o Clothes o Entertainment o Electricity o Toilets o Holidays o Health & Medical services o Post and telephones o Mobile phones o Television & Radio o Sports o Dressing style o Insects - Sri Lanka – useful DOs and DON’Ts - Checklist for an intern - AIESEC in Sri Lanka - Exchange information for the intern o Reception Teams o Arrival and Airport Pickup o Accommodation o Reception and integration activities o Sri Lanka – useful phrases in Sinhala
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Ayubowan, Wanakkam, Welcome Dear new intern! We are glad that you have been matched to our beautiful Island – SRI LANKA – the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. We recommend you read this booklet carefully. If you still have some questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We are looking forward to seeing you soon! With love, AIESEC in Sri Lanka A word from an ex-intern… “It was only a couple of days before the start of my marketing management internship, when I found out that I was going to spend a year in Sri Lanka. I didn’t know much about the country, in fact, I only knew that it lies in the Indian Ocean beneath India, that it is an island, that its former name was Ceylon, and that they have AIESEC there. However, after receiving an email from a friend, who had been there for one month by that time, I decided Sri Lanka was definitely the place for me to go. My criteria? I wanted to go far away from home, to a very different culture, for a very long time, and do something related to marketing. All my expectations were not only met, they were exceeded. The one thing that matters the most about any kind of internship are people who you spend your time with – in our case the AIESEC community but gradually also other people from the environment where we live. AIESECers are the ones who made my integration into their culture and society very easy and comfortable. Although I hate to generalize about people (because everybody is very unique) I need to say that Sri Lankans are some of the nicest, most hospitable people I have met so far. They try to help in any situation, make sure everything is going fine … they simply care. I would recommend this beautiful island of paradise to any SN in the whole world who likes to overcome cultural and personal challenges, learn many new things, and find out more about you, because that is an order of the day here. I know that some of you might be a little concerned about the safety situation here. Media like to exaggerate a bit. I was concerned as well, but because I had generally very little knowledge about the country, I decided to trust people here when assuring me of no danger. I am glad I did so – I feel here just as safe as at home, that is Slovakia. I soon learned that if a conflict occurs, it is always only on a national (Sri Lankan) level. They have absolutely nothing here against foreigners. You see, if I had not come, I would not have learned. So why don’t you come and experience for yourself.” Stefan CHAMRAZ alias Stevo Intern from Slovakia 2001/2002
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Do you know about Sri Lanka…?
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – Population and People “Sri Lanka is a country of really nice and hospitable people, who smile 24 hours per day and are very warm and sweet. You just have to love them as much as they love you….” - Intern’s comment
Ethnic Groups Two major ethnic groups in Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamils. Other than them there are Muslims and Burghers. Sinhalese The Sinhalese constitute about 74% of the population. They speak Sinhala, and are predominantly Buddhist or Catholics and have a reputation as easy-going. The Sinhalese have a caste system, although it is nowhere near as important as it is in India. They either belong to ‘low country’, or ‘Kandyan’. This low country or Kandyan is then divided into several sub castes. But, nowadays caste is not an issue except in marriages. Tamils The Tamils are the second-largest group, constituting about 18% of the population. Tamils are predominantly Hindu and speak Tamil. About 50 million Tamils – far more than the whole population of Sri Lanka- live across the Palk Strait in India. There are two distinct groups of Tamils. The origins of so-called ‘Sri Lankan’ or ‘Ceylon’ Tamils go back to the southern Indians who came to Sri Lanka around 1000 years ago. The other group is the ‘hill country’ or ‘plantation’ Tamils whose ancestors were brought to Sri Lanka from India by the British to work on tea plantations in 19th century. Muslims Muslims comprise about 7% of the population. Most of them are ‚Sri Lanka Moors’, whose presence goes back to Portuguese times and who are probably the descendants of Arab or Indian Muslim traders and the rest are Malays – who are of more eastern descent. Tamil is the mother tongue of most of them. Others The Burghers are Eurasians, primarily descendants of Portuguese and Dutch. For a time, even after independence, the Burghers had a disproportionate influence over the political and business life in Sri Lanka, but growing Sinhalese and Tamil nationalism has reduced their advantage and many Burghers have moved abroad. There are also small Chinese and European communities and small, groups of low caste South Indians coming in to perform the most menial tasks.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Wannaiyala-aetto The ‚Wannaiyala-aetto‛ (People of the Forest) is usually referred to in Sri Lanka as ‚Veddahs‛. They are the original inhabitants of the country, and their story is one of great tragedy. They are by no means a homogenous group, sharing a common religion, language and culture. And this is one of the reasons some people claim they actually don’t exist. Some of them live deep in the forests in the south-east, and in recent years have campaigned hard and long for recognition of its rights.
Sri Lanka - Religion Sri Lanka religiosity religion Buddhism Hinduism Islam Christianity
percent 69% 15% 8% 8%
Religion plays an important part in the life and culture of Sri Lankans. The Buddhist majority observe Poya Days (full moon days), once per month according to the Lunar calendar. The Hindus and Muslims also observe their own holidays. There are many Buddhist temples spread throughout the island in addition to numerous mosques, Hindu temples and churches, especially in areas where respective communities are concentrated. Sri Lanka – Geography Facts to know: Sri Lanka is shaped like a teardrop falling from the southern tip of India. It is just 353 km long from north to south and only 183 km at its widest. Its area of 66,000 sq km is about the same as that of Ireland or Tasmania in Australia. It is worth traveling all around the country: - visit coastal areas and beautiful beaches (Unawatuna in Galle, Trincomalee, the best beaches are on the south-west and east coasts)
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
- climb the highest mountain in the spectacularly beautiful hill country region – Piduratalagala (2524 m) and Adam’s Peak (2224 m)
- travel by train through hilly up-country to Kandy (by observation wagon on the back of the train as there is so much to observe on the way)
- follow the route of Marco Polo through the catchiest part of Sri Lankan nature, trip with steam train to Badulla Sri Lanka – Climate
Typical tropical country, hot with high humidity. You may sweat most of the time.
There are dry and wet seasons, which are influenced by two monsoons o
From May to August; South-West monsoon brings rain to the Southern and Western coastal regions and the Central hill country
o
From October to January; the north-east monsoon brings rain to the north and east part of the island
o
General dry season is from December to March
BUT the weather usually doesn’t stick to these seasons, it has changed so nothing is sure – it often seems to be raining where it should be sunny and vice versa
Sri Lanka suffered from a serious drought, which led to power shortages that influenced the industries, but at present things are back to normal with the introduction of small scale thermal power plants
The average temperature in Colombo (capital) is about 28 degrees Celsius
In the hilly up-country region is much cooler – about 20 degrees Celsius or in Nuwara-Eliya (16 degrees Celsius)
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – Ecology and Environment
There are many factors that contribute towards the destruction of the environment in Sri Lanka to a certain extent – gem mining, deforestation, cultivation, clearance for cultivation, sand mining, prawn farming, etc.
Sinharaja (rain-forest) is a World Heritage Site (worth to visit)
Sri Lanka has two marine sanctuaries: the Bar Reef and the Hikkaduwa + 24 wildlife sanctuaries
There are laws against marine pollution, trade in endangered species or the illegal felling of trees, but the destruction of forests continue due to a growing population that demands more land to be cleared for settlement and cultivation
There is no waste recycling. People usually throw everything down; you don’t find many garbage bins here.
In some areas you are not allowed to throw plastic or something else what can pollute the nature (e.g. Knuckles, national parks)
Air in Colombo is quite polluted because of a lot of cars, buses and dust (but in some time you will get used to it ☺)
Sri Lanka - Flora and Fauna
Sri Lanka has a diverse plant and animal life – with elephants and leopards as well as many national parks and reservations, which are the pride of this little
Island
The south-western wet zone has a tropical rain-forest with lots of hardwood trees, including; Ebony, teak and silk wood. Here you will find some of the most spectacular orchids and many of the plants used in Ayurvedic (traditional) medicine.
The central hill zone is cool and damp, with hardy grasslands, rhododendron and stunted forests
Dry zones are covered by trees with shrubs and dry grasslands that flourish with green grass with the first rains. “AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
The animals of Sri Lanka are some of the most unusual and varied anywhere. (86 species of Mammals – elephants, leopards, deer, monkeys, sloth bears, Loris, porcupines, jackals, flying Foxes, wild boars, etc.; 450 species of birds; 54 species of fish, 40 species of frogs, 83 species of Snakes; 5 species of turtles, etc.)
There are nearly 100 protected areas acknowledged by the government all around the island due to more than 43 animal species that are endangered
Sri Lanka – Government and Politics The Democratic Socialistic Republic of Sri Lanka:
Gained independence from Britain on 4th of February 1948
First republican constitution in 1972
Sri Lanka’s executive president is elected for 6 years and has the power to appoint or dismiss members of the cabinet, including the prime minister and to dissolve parliament
Members of the parliament are elected by the people for 6 years
The country has 8 provinces: Central, North-Central, North–Eastern, NorthWestern, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and Western.
The legal system is a complex mix of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese and customary law.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – Economy Before independence the Sri Lankan economy centered on plantation crops (tea, rubber, coconut) – a legacy of the colonial regime. While plantation crops remain important, the Economy today is considerably more diverse. The top earner is the garment sector, which accounts more than 30% of manufacturing employment and more than 45% of exports. Sri Lanka’s main export crops are tea and rubber.
The main markets for Sri Lankan tea are Russia and the Middle East. Sri Lanka’s fishing sector provides about 60% of the country’s needs. Fish farming is centered on prawns, which is mainly done by the private sector
Tourism, an important income earner, suffered a major setback following several of LTTE attacks at important places in Colombo (1996 – Central Bank, 1998 – Temple of Tooth in Kandy, 2001 – airport, etc.)
Most tourists generally come from Europe (around 45%), out of which around 18% is from UK. Asia accounts to around 40% out of which India accounts for 18%.
Economic liberalization started in 1977 with the main thrust focusing on reducing the size of the public sector and enhancing its efficiency. In 1995 government initiated a public sector reform program.
Privatization included most important companies like: Sri Lankan telecom, National Development Bank, Sri Lankan Airlines, Colombo Gas, etc. With the end of the civil war against the LTTE more & more funds are driven into nationwide infrastructure development.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – Colombo Sri Lanka’s biggest city (2 million people) is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It holds less of obvious interest than many other parts of the island – but it’s a colorful place. Colombo is by no means overwhelming and its center Fort is distinctly handy and very easy to get around on foot. The Capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, it was made the capital of Sri Lanka by Sri Lanka’s first executive president late J.R. Jayawardana. Before that Colombo was the capital under the British and in the first four decades of Sri Lankan independence. Colombo is broken into 15 postal code areas. Colombo’s main train station – ‘Fort’, is for example in ‘Pettah’, where many buses start and it is known as Colombo 11. Then you get for example ‘Bambalapitiya’, which is Colombo 4 and so on. It is very easy to orient in Colombo that way. For the intern is always useful to buy the 73 page A-Z Street Guide and carry it in case you get lost. It includes also suburbs of Colombo, where interns usually live. Colombo is a normal happening place where all necessary facilities to live comfortable are available: ATMs, banks, cinemas (English, Sinhalese), theatres, night clubs, sport clubs, fitness centers, cricket grounds, temples, christian churches, hindu temples, tourist information office, post offices, internet cafes, bookshops, libraries, cultural centers, universities, laundry services, etc. Sri Lanka – Arts Sri Lanka’s famous Kandyan dance (nowadays considered to be the national dance of Sri Lanka) and ‘Kolam’ (masked dance-drama) have their origin in South India, but have developed a uniquely local character. The devil dancing is very typical for the low country and almost certainly predates Buddhism. There are many interesting rituals and costumes connected to all of these dances, but the best is to experience it than just talk or read about it. Sri Lanka – Food Rice and curry is the food of Sri Lanka, and the variety of vegetables, meat and fish make every meal an adventure for the newcomer. With rice you might get crisply fried ‘popadam’, surrounding the rice are spooned different curries and ‘sambols’ (hot spicy relishes made from coconut, chilli and onion). Fried rice is also very popular (rice mixed with some vegetable and fried on the oil). The cooking medium for most curries is coconut milk, made from grating the white coconut flesh, mixing it with a little water and straining off the milk.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Traditional breakfast consists of hoppers (‘aappa’), which are prepared from a batter of rice flour, coconut and palm toddy. Variation of it can be egg hopper prepared the same way but with a fried egg in the middle or string hoppers – made also from rice flour. Very popular is ‘roti’ as well – round, flat unleavened bread with a dash of coconut and chilli. It can be also with egg inside (egg roti). Other variation is ‘paraatas’.
Sri Lanka is a place of a big variety of fruits and vegetables! All the possible and impossible things you can get here!
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Food in Sri Lanka is eaten by hands, esp. right hand, what you might find a little bit weird but it is very easy to get used to and all our interns enjoy it. The only problem you can face is that Sri Lankan food is spicy (they use a lot of pepper, chilli so if you are not use to it; you don’t enjoy the food at the beginning). Sri Lanka – useful links http://www.lonelyplanet.com http://www.srilankatourism.org http://www.lacnet.org http://www.ilovecolombo.com http://www.yahoo.com – countries - Sri Lanka http://www.lanka.net http://www.lankanews.com http://www.infolanka.com http://www.lankaweb.com http://www.srilanka-travel.com http://www.srilankan.lk (National Carrier) Sri Lanka – useful information Banks and Money Sri Lanka has a decimal currency: 100 cents to the rupee. Foreign visitors should bring US dollars, Pounds, Euros or Japanese yen, as provincial banks may not accept other currencies. Exchange rate of U.S. Dollar to Sri Lankan Rupee 1$ = Rs.110 approx. If visitors arriving in Sri Lanka have more than US$ 10,000 in foreign currency they must declare it on a detachable slip affixed to the Disembarkation Card, which has, in theory, to be surrendered to the Customs on departure. All unspent rupees changed from foreign currencies declared on arrival can be reconverted to hard currency upon departure. It is good to keep some of your receipts, as well as exchange certificates, to make conversion easier.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Banks are closed at 3:30pm usually and are closed during weekends and public holidays. Some banks are open half day (9:00am-1:00pm ) on Saturdays. Visa, Master and Cirrus cards are accepted in most of the banks and you can withdraw money easily from ATMs that are available in Colombo and bigger cities (Kandy, Anuradhapura, Bandarawella, etc.) but are not available in smaller towns and cities. Other cards (e.g. Visa Electron) are accepted only in a certain banks so it is better to have cards mentioned before. Cost of living Sri Lanka is generally more expensive than India, but nevertheless still pleasantly economical. Generally, the salary of an intern is about 20,000 – 35,000 Rupees (220320 $/month) – 10,000 Rupees is the price for an accommodation (average), 15,000 – 20,000 for food (it depends how hungry you are, where you eat, this is average), 500 for laundry, 500 for traveling within Colombo and the rest can be easily spend on traveling and entertainment. (Weekend trip would cost you around 2000 Rupees, trip for more days 5000 - 7000 Rs). Recommendation: Take approx. 400 $ for living for the first month, then another 200 $ for your residence visa, Another 200$ for advanced payment (Key Money) for your accommodation (everybody has to pay it at the beginning, you will get the money back 1month before leaving). If you plan to buy some clothes at the beginning then take some extra money for that.
Public transport is totally inexpensive (10 Rupees for one kilometer by train or bus). Distance buses and trains are also reasonable (A/C Bus Colombo – Kandy – 220 Rs, Colombo – Anuradhapura – 150 Rs, buses without A/C are cheaper). Local food has reasonable prices too (lunch – rice and curry would be about 150 Rs, bread – 100, dinner in the standard restaurant – 300-800 Rs, bottle of coke – 50 Rs, etc.). You can buy some European food in big supermarkets, for 1 week average expenses will be 3000-7000 Rs. What is expensive for foreigners are entrance fees to all tourist places (With residence visa you can pay sometimes as a local, otherwise 2x-3x more than locals – Sigiriya – 2800 Rs, Yala national park – 2000 Rs, etc.). Clothes are very cheap in Sri Lanka, e. g. clothes in House of Fashion (one of the most popular places to buy clothes) are usually around 800 – 1000 Rs, and of course more expensive one are also available. Entertainment – cinema 350 Rs, entrance fee to clubs – for men 1000 Rs, ladies free, beer in a pub – 150 Rs, bowling – 300 Rs per game per person, pool – 300-400 Rs per hour. You won’t save money in Sri Lanka, sometimes you have to spend your money, but the experience is so big that you won’t regret the money.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Tipping Tipping is optional. If you tip, about ten percent of the bill is a fair tip.
Electricity The electric current in Sri Lanka is 230 – 240V, 50Hz. If you bring sensitive electronic equipment to the country (e.g. a laptop) take a voltage stabilizer. Most sockets here have three round pins, but an ever increasing number is starting to have square pins as well. Adapters are available in electrical stores for about 2$, but if you want to be better prepared, bring an adapter with you.
Toilets Most of the time you will encounter sit-down toilets, squat toilets are used usually out of Colombo. Toilet paper is available in supermarkets and general stores (Rs. 100) and local people don’t use it at all (they use water and left hand).
Holidays Sri Lanka has a five-day week, sometimes six-day week (they work a half day on Saturdays). Beside weekends, every full moon or poya day is a holiday (once a month). All places of entertainment (including cinemas) and bars are closed on poya days. If you want to drink, you have to make all the necessary arrangements day before. Some more holidays are during the year. Sri Lanka has the most holidays of any country in the world (23 in all).
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Health Sri Lanka is not a dangerous or unhealthy place but still it is recommended to consult with the doctor what kind of medications and vaccinations to get before coming to Sri Lanka. It is recommended to get vaccination against hepatitis, typhus and it is good to take anti-malaria tablets with you to Sri Lanka as well. Some interns get the vaccination here if they don’t have enough time before coming or because it is cheaper for them. Also anti-malaria tablets are available here and they are cheaper. Do not start taking anti-malaria pills if you are coming for the longer period as body can develop immunity against them. Keep them and take them only before visiting rainforests or jungles in Sri Lanka. If you do not have a stomach resistant to South Asian bugs, be prepared to have a stomach upset at some point during your visit. You should be consuming only boiled or filtered water, never directly from the tap. Papaya, curd and rice are particularly soothing upset stomachs at the beginning. Sometimes you can get stomach problem or diarrhea that disappears next day. If you have any specific allergy, bring medicines with you; otherwise all basic medicines are available in Sri Lanka. You should definitely bring multi vitamins with you and take one every morning during your stay until you get used to the local food (Sri Lankans don’t eat a lot of fruits and vegetables that is why you need to take the pills for balance). Very important is to be aware of mosquitoes. They can cause malaria but worst then malaria is ‚dengue‛ – it is faster than malaria and there is no medicine against dengue. There are 3 basic types of dengue so it depends what kind you get; sometimes people die. So it is good to use mosquito net (you can buy it very cheap here – 450 Rs) or some repellent or mosquito coils.
Medical services Government hospitals throughout the island provide free medical attention. The best services are probably in Colombo, but do not expect Western high-tech medical facilities. There is no shortage of chemist shops in Sri Lanka. There are also private hospitals where you have to pay. The service is of course much better than in government hospitals.
Post and telephones Private post offices have sprung all over Colombo and they are the quickest and easiest places to make international calls or even buy stamps. Telephone services are also quite developed and anywhere in Sri Lanka you find many telecommunications centers, from which you can make local or international calls easily. Local phone calls are cheap. There are also many phone booths scattered around the city of Colombo and the other major cities.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Mobile phones There are five mobile telephone services operating in Sri Lanka. They are Dialog GSM , Mobitel, Etisalat, Hutchinson, and Airtel. They all cover Colombo and the suburbs, as well as the other major cities in the Island. There is also coverage of the other (non-urban) parts of the Island, in varying degrees. They offer varying tariff and service packages, and it is best to study all before picking one. Television & Radio Sri Lanka has two state owned TV channels RUPAVAHINI and the INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NETWORK (ITN). In addition to these, there are several private channels, some of which are MTV, SIRASA TV, TNL, ETV and SWARNAVAHINI. Most of the programs in ETV and MTV are in English, but other channels offer a variety of good English programs too (e.g. ArtTV). In addition to the state run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), several new private radio stations are on the air on FM bands. Some of them are in English and they play rock, alternate, pop, hip-hop etc. Newspapers English Dailies – The Daily News, The Island and Daily Mirror On Sundays – Sunday Observer, Sunday Island, the Sunday Times, the Sunday Leader, Weekend Express Wednesday - Midweek Mirror.
Transport In Sri Lanka, the vehicles go on the left side of the road - NOT the right. This is the opposite of how vehicles go in continental Europe. So make sure that you don't look in the wrong direction while crossing the road! “AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Buses – The government’s central transport board has an island-wide network of buses and many local services. There are also numerous private minibuses, which drive quite fast and whose conductors try to cram in as many passengers as possible. The merit of both types of buses is that they are extremely cheap. Buses for short distances are usually not air-conditioned. Taxis –There are radio-controlled taxi services operating in Colombo and suburbs. They are Kangaroo – Quick Cabs, Nano Cabs, GNTC Cabs and Metro Radio Cabs. They have meters count and are recommended when you are not sure about rates and distance. Three-wheeler’s / Trishaw’s / Tuk-Tuk’s Indian-made auto rickshaws are the next step up the price ladder. But be warned – they do not have meters count! - so prior agreement on fare is strongly recommended. Make sure you have a rough idea of the rates and strike a deal before you set off. But nowadays there are Metered taxies where they charge for the distance you travel. First kilometer is 50Rs and then 30Rs per kilometer. Waiting charges is 100Rs per hour. Recommended always use metered taxies
Rail – There are rail lines to most of the country’s main tourist destinations, and Inter-City services to Kandy. There is also intra-city transport within Colombo. Travelling by train is usually longer than by bus but sometimes you can see very nice scenery. A word of caution while traveling by public transport in Colombo Pickpockets are active on public transport. Never get on a bus or train with your shoulder bag unzipped – in fact, don’t even walk down the road with it in that state. If you are carrying any valuables such as passport (interns have to carry it all the time), you are urged to keep it in a money belt or a pouch under your clothes (in other words, out of sight and out of reach). Women may find going by buses not so comfortable sometimes. Fellow passengers sometimes can’t keep their hands to themselves. As ordinary buses are so crowded it is virtually impossible to avoid bodily contact with other passengers, but if someone is making a concerted effort to invade your space, such as it is, you have few options: if you are carrying a shoulder bag, put it in between you and the other person, stick out your elbows so they are at least the first point of contact between you and your unwelcome neighbors, move to another part of the bus if you can. If things are unbearable, get off and catch another bus. If you are touched or robbed, shout loudly, try to grab the perpetrator’s arm and draw attention to them, humiliation seems to be most effective. Or you could say: ‘Epaa!’ (‘Don’t!’), or shout an appropriately stern phrase in English.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Nightlife and entertainment The best nightlife is definitely in Colombo as in other cities it still not socially acceptable. If you like dancing and clubbing you can spend the night at one of the main discos in town. Most are in big hotels and the best one is Blue Elephant at the Hilton (also the most expensive one).
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There is always an entrance fee for men: women can go in for free. It has an intimate atmosphere but it is usually very crowded. Dress rule is very strict: smart casual, proper shoes and no jeans. Drinks in nightclubs are rather expensive to local conditions. There are several places where live music is playing – rocks fans would find it very interesting. From other entertainment opportunities very famous are: Dancing at Bistro Latino, playing pool, bowling in Millennium Park, cinemas or just spending your time in the pub on the beach. Buses during the night time are rare in Colombo so you might have to have to hire a cab or to have your own car to go home. There are no real bars or pubs in Sri Lanka. Drinking is still a very big problem in Sri Lanka although Sri Lankan should not drink. On full moon (poya days) it is very difficult to get a drink anywhere. Drinking is also very expensive ‘hobby’ in Sri Lanka. The most favorite drinks in Sri Lanka are Beer and Arrack (local alcohol made out of coconut). Sports Many hotels in Colombo have swimming pools, some of which are open to nonresidents for a fee. ‘Power World’ fitness center is widely used by interns in Sri Lanka as it is not as expensive as fitness facilities in hotels but provide you with the standard of Western fitness studios. Jogging, running and cycling is not that common in Asia Pacific because of the climate, but you can swim in the ocean, play beach volleyball, and play badminton which is very popular and of course cricket and rugby. Dressing style Daily dress: People wear the same clothes as in Europe – shirts, T-shirts, blouses, trousers, skirts (preferably long ones), 3/4 trousers, rarely shorts (mostly for trips or to the gym). Color – usually dark such as black, gray, blue, although they like light colors. Office dress: mostly (smart) casual wear - Shirt with short sleeves (sometimes with long sleeves), sometimes tie and trousers for men; blouse (suitable T-shirt is possible) and skirt or trousers for women. In governmental institutions women wear national
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
clothes (Saree). You can consult a colleague at work to ensure that you wear appropriately for work. National dress: ‘Osariya’(kind of same as saree) for women and sarong for men. You as a foreigner can wear what you want but you can be sure if white girl has short skirt and low neckline that she attracts attention a lot. Swimming suit: women use next to swimming suit some clothes wrapped around the body or t-shirt with shorts, men sometimes t-shirt and shorts or only swimming suit. As a foreigner again you can wear what you want but if girls have bikini all the men will be soon close to them.
Insects Just a small warning that some insect are always everywhere, so don’t be scared if you see it, they are not dangerous, e. g. ‚home insects‛ - ants (you have to hide your food very properly), small lizards, cockroaches of size 5 cm, spiders, mice… Sri Lanka – useful DOs and DON’Ts Temple Etiquette – When visiting a Buddhist temple you have to remove your shoes and hat and, if carrying umbrella, furl it. Your legs and shoulders should be covered, never enter a temple in beach wear. You should never take a photo of a monk without asking permission. Photos should not be taken with your back to statues of Buddha. In the more visited temples you will likely be asked to make donations. The traditional practice is that you make a donation only if you wish. If you would like to give something, never hand money directly to a monk, give it to a responsible layperson. In Hindu temples you have to follow same rules as in Buddhist temples. Visiting homes – If you are invited to someone’s home, it’s customary to bring a small gift. Do not bring flowers as they are not considered to be special. A packet of tea or quality sweetmeats are ok. Don’t be offended if the gift vanishes without comment; it’s considered to be rude to inspect gift in front of its giver. You’ll be expected to dress decently and remove your shoes before entering. Right hand rule – Always give and receive and eat with your right hand. The left hand is used for an associated with unclean functions and it is bad to use it for eating “AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
(it is not so strict in Sri Lanka, sometimes you will see people using also left hand for eating but mostly they eat with right hand). Bathing – Nudity is absolutely not allowed anywhere. This include beach as well. You will notice people bathing in streams and tanks all over the country. But you will also notice that they do so covered with thin cloths and they manage to soap and rinse themselves without removing the cloth. Wedding, funeral, home coming – you can be invited from your colleagues or some friends. These ceremonies are different than in Europe so be sure before going there that you know what you are supposed to do.
Smoking – is forbidden in publics places! Checklist for an intern or what you should definitely not leave at home: (prepared based on discussions with interns)
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“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
AIESEC in Sri Lanka AIESEC in Sri Lanka was established in 1995 and has grown fast during the past few years. We are a young AIESEC country which has made quick progress in a short time. We have realized many management and development internships during this time and takes pleasure in providing a unique experience to the incoming interns. We have 4 local committees (LCs) and 2 Expansions. Colombo North Local Committee This is represented at two universities: Kelanyia University (1hour North of AIESEC office) LC has approximately 20-30 active members. The members are from the faculties of Humanities, Science and Management. Colombo South Local Committee This is the University of Moratuwa (1hour South of AIESEC office) and has a membership of 30-40 active members. The university is a technical university and thus all the members are engineering undergraduates. Ja’pura Local Committee This is a recent development, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (known as Ja’pura for ease and 15 min South of AIESEC offices) to realize its true potential. Membership of 30-40 active members from Science and Management faculties.
Colombo Central Local committee This is a recent development as well, which is based on the University of Colombo and this is known as CC LC (and 10 minutes North of AIESEC office) There is around 10-20 active members and most of them are from management Faculty and Science faculty.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Member committee (MC) thilina.fonseka@aiesec.net MCVP Corporate Exchange shanaka.chathuranga@aiesec.net MCVP Non Corporate Exchange
The national executive body of AIESEC in Sri Lanka consists of 8 members with two positions fulltime and another five part-time. The positions are President, Vice President Corporate Exchange, Vice President Non Corporate Exchange, Vice President Finance, Vice President Talent Management, Vice President External Relations, Vice President Out Going Exchange, Vice President Information systems and Communications.
AIESEC Contact details AIESEC in Sri Lanka 24/12 F, Sri Siddhartha path, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 -11- 2514715 info@aiesecsl.org
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Exchange information for the intern Reception Teams Every intern coming to the country is assigned a buddy Who. Discusses intern’s expectations, creating a learning plan for the intern, responsible for day-to-day communication with intern and company, measurement and evaluation of the internship, coordinating reception activities for the intern, home stay, etc. If any problem occurs a buddy should be the first person contacted and asked for help. VISA You will receive information on VISA separately (inquire if not already provided with) Arrival and Airport Pickup Make sure to communicate the arrival details (full name, date of arrival, time of arrival, flight Numbers, photo, etc.) in advance to the buddy or the TN manager. The buddy from AIESEC will pick you up at the airport upon arrival at almost all the time unless there is an exceptional case. In case of no one is there to pick you up from the airport, you will have to hire a cab and come to AIESEC office, the address is mentioned above. Reception and integration activities Reception and integration activities that interns are involved in can be divided into 4 categories: (here are examples of some activities from past interns history)
Cultural integration activities – cultural presentations done by the interns for AIESEC members and companies.
AIESEC involvement activities – welcome package, running training sessions for AIESEC members and companies, participation on LC meetings,
Professional and personal development activities – participation on training sessions that are being run for companies (as a delegate or trainer), presentations at universities (in professional area), help with raising funds for AIESEC, many opportunities can be found based on intern’s interests and requirements
Community involvement activities – very important part of involvement interns into day-to-day life of Sri Lanka and one of the greatest expectations from us to you, there are many opportunities for interns to be involved in society involvement and community development projects.
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Intern’s minimum responsibilities
Communicate with the buddy and the company before arrival
Take all the documents necessary for arranging visa + photos (3 for visa)
Send arrival note
Have all the vaccinations required for Sri Lanka (hepatitis A, B, typhus, bring malaria pills)
Have a complete insurance for the whole stay in the country
Have enough money for the first month in the country (visa, rent, living expenses, Advanced payment for accommodation – together about 450$)
Be subscribed to community SRI LANKA in www.myaiesec.net (for more information ask your buddy) – it is a source of a lots of information
Submit expectation form
Provide evaluation forms during your stay
Perform the job properly according to the initial requirements
Pay monthly accommodation rent to AIESEC if you live in AIESEC house or to landlord if you live in intern house.
Participate on reception activities organized by AIESEC
Present your country on welcome party/at the university/at the recruitment sessions/in the company
Do ongoing evaluation of the internship with the company
Participate on Community and other involvement activities
Maintain a diary (reception plan) for AIESEC measurement purposes
Submit final evaluation report to AIESEC and to the company
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
Experience of our interns Positive “agents of change” of Sri Lanka – more experience from interns - ‚No matter where in the world you go for your internship, you will go through a life changing learning experience, which will add great value to you‛ - ‚Try to get from the culture as much as possible – you can achieve that if you are open to, new things, to changes, to new experiences, if you talk to local people, if you spend ,some time with them, if you do the same what locals do, etc.‛ - ‚Don’t expect that Sri Lanka or Asia is the same as Europe that you can find here everything you are used to having at home‛ - ‚Don’t be disappointed if all your expectations are not filled, esp. job expectations, sometimes you can do something else then it was in your job description‛ - ‚Working style in Sri Lanka is different, everything takes long time, Sri Lankans are usually, not punctual, they have their own ways how to do some work so don’t think of them that they are stupid‛ -‚Try to understand the people ,you will see that there are many things that you will like but also many things that you will hate….but it is the culture so respect everything‛ - ‚Sometimes happens that AIESECers have exams and nothing much is happening. So don’t criticize them, be proactive and do something to overcome this period‛ - ‚People here are very friendly, always smiling; they have very close contact with each other, for them their family means a lot, they are always very helpful‛ - ‚Some people cannot speak English but usually you won’t have problem to find someone who speaks English, at the beginning you might not understand Srilankan English because of the different accent‛ - ‚Sri Lanka is very beautiful country with beaches, mountains, waterfalls, elephants; you can experience hot and cold, sun and rain‛ - ‚Most of Sri Lankans cannot swim, they don’t like fruits much, and some of them eat rice three times per day‛ - ‚Sri Lankan like gossips, everybody usually knows everything, they don’t speak directly. If there is something regarding you, usually people around you know everything but not you.‛ - ‚I definitely got more than a lot. My stay here over-exceeded all my expectations by far and I feel like receiving a double pack for the price of one‛
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka
VERY USEFUL PHRASES IN SRI LANKA: CHANGES EVERY DAY EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WE WILL SEE
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON IN SRI LANKA!!!
“AYUBOWAN “Sri Lanka - Reception booklet of AIESEC in Sri Lanka