001
8 Sept 202354K
The Sri Lankan mindset
The particulars of the Sri Lankan mindset, attitudes toward tourists, and everyday behaviour.
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Peoples
The peoples, languages and ethnic makeup of the island.
002
5 Dec 202335K
Tamil Village
The daily life, architecture, culture, and ways of the Tamil population in the central part of the island.
Open source003
26 Dec 2023150K
Quirks of Sri Lankan Communication
The cultural trait of locals rarely admitting they don't know the answer.
Open source004
10 Feb 2023136K
Tamils and Sinhalese
Tamils and Sinhalese: their numbers, differences, and where they live.
Open source005
9 Aug 202315K
The Tamils
The Tamils: their way of life, sense of community, work on tea plantations, and cultural traditions.
Open source006
23 Aug 2023168K
Basic phrases in Sinhala
Basic phrases in Sinhala for communicating with locals.
Open source007
21 May 2026
How a Middle-Class Sri Lankan Man Finds a Bride
The author describes in detail how his Sri Lankan friend Chamindu searches for a bride through a paid WhatsApp chat containing profiles of marriage-ready women.
Open source008
8 May 2026
Dhee — a Tamil singer from Jaffna with global success
Dhee is a fourth-generation Australian-Tamil singer from Jaffna who rose to fame with "Rowdy Baby" (over a billion YouTube views) and released her new single "Vari Vari" in April 2026.
Open source009
12 Dec 2025
Sri Lankans Lead South Asia in IQ
As of 2025, Sri Lankans have the highest average IQ in South Asia at 102, placing them among the top 12 countries in the world by this metric.
Open source010
21 Nov 2025
Four Sri Lankan Citizens Tried to Illegally Enter Finland
A Vyborg court sentenced four Sri Lankan citizens to nine months in a penal colony for attempting to illegally cross from Russia into Finland using bolt cutters, but released them with credit for time served in pre-trial detention.
Open source011
19 Sept 2025
Workers from Sri Lanka Are Changing Russia's Labor Market
An RBC article on the transformation of Russia's labor market: migrants from South Asia, including Sri Lanka, are replacing workers from Central Asia.
Open source012
29 Jun 2025
The Story of Rizana Nafeek — Executed Sri Lankan Migrant Worker
A retelling of the tragic story of young Sri Lankan Rizana Nafeek, executed in Saudi Arabia on charges of killing an infant in her care.
Open source013
16 Mar 2025
Jaffna-born lawyer appointed Canada's Minister of Justice
Gary Anandasangaree, born in Jaffna to a Tamil politician's family, has been appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Open source014
12 Dec 2024
How Sri Lankans celebrate the start of construction
The author describes how Sri Lankans solemnly started construction — invited family and friends, set out food, with no alcohol involved.
Open source015
17 Oct 2024
Why Sri Lankans Always Ask "Where Are You From?"
Locals ask foreigners about their origin out of genuine curiosity and because meeting tourists is their main way of learning about other cultures.
Open source016
26 May 2024
Interview with Arun: From Orthodox Priest to Hinduism
Online media Nozh published an interview with Arun — a former Orthodox European Exarch who converted to Aghora Hinduism and lives in Trincomalee.
Open source017
19 Dec 2023
The grandfather of Sri Lankan abstractionism, Karunaratne
Artist Nastya writes about H.A. Karunaratne, a pioneer of Sri Lankan second-wave abstractionism of the 20th century, tracing the style from Kandinsky.
Open source018
6 Dec 2023
George Keyt: cubism and Buddhist motifs on one canvas
The 'Art of the Island' column: George Keyt merged European cubism with Buddhist imagery; his works are held in museums and worth millions.
Open source019
6 Dec 2023
George Keyt — Sri Lanka's most famous artist
A brief mention of George Keyt — Sri Lanka's most expensive and celebrated artist, who lived to about 90 and became a legend in his own lifetime.
Open source020
29 Nov 2023
Marina Abramovic and performance as contemporary art
The 'Art of the Island' column: a story about Serbian artist Marina Abramovic — the 'grandmother of performance art' — and her collaborative works with Ulay.
Open source021
22 Nov 2023
Laki Senanayake — versatile Sri Lankan artist
The 'Art of the Island' column: Laki Senanayake — sculptor, painter and landscape artist whose 1970 banknote for the Central Bank of Sri Lanka won an international prize in Paris.
Open source022
18 Nov 2023
Interview with a polyglot: life knowing eight languages
The MAD Set channel released an interview with Alexander, who lives on the island speaking eight languages, as part of the 'People of the Island' series.
Open source023
15 Nov 2023
Artist Anup Vega: calligraphy-like graphics in Ahangama
The 'Art of the Island' column features artist Anup Vega, whose graphic works can be seen at the NAP group exhibition in the TRAX club gallery in Ahangama.
Open source024
14 Nov 2023
Joseph Stalin — general secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union
A curious note that the name Joseph Stalin regularly appears in Sri Lanka's news because it belongs to the general secretary of the Ceylon Teachers' Union.
Open source025
13 Nov 2023
People of the island: Alisa, 1.5 years in Thalpe
Profile of Alisa from Moscow: one and a half years on the island in Thalpe, runs surf therapy for children, favourite spot is a corner of Galle Fort wall.
Open source026
11 Nov 2023
Stand-up comedian explores the island for a concert venue
The channel introduces a friend — a stand-up comedian and scriptwriter who toured the island looking for a concert venue.
Open source027
10 Nov 2023
People of the island: Jimmy, 705 days in Galle
Profile of Jimmy from Saint Petersburg: 705 days on the island, lives in Galle, runs the YouTube channel Jimmy Ivanson, and loves surfing.
Open source028
9 Nov 2023
Bevis Bawa — caricaturist and brother of architect Geoffrey
The 'Art of the Island' column profiles caricaturist Bevis Bawa — elder brother of renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa and one of Sri Lanka's iconic artists.
Open source029
7 Nov 2023
People of the island: Vika, photographer from Saint Petersburg
Profile of Vika from Saint Petersburg: 150 days in Mirissa, passionate photographer offering 'therapeutic' photo sessions, favourite spot is Crocodile Rock in Arugam Bay.
Open source030
3 Nov 2023
People of the island: Tatyana, engineer and psychologist from Volgograd
Profile of Tatyana from Volgograd: 224 days in Mirissa, favourite spot is Galle Fort, she crochets bags and cherishes the warmth and natural beauty of the island.
Open source031
3 Nov 2023
Bandaranaike: the path to victory — waiting without expectations
The second instalment of 'Art of the Island' tells how Sirimavo Bandaranaike, despite setbacks, waited for her moment and won the election unanimously.
Open source032
1 Nov 2023
Sirimavo Bandaranaike — the world's first female prime minister
The 'Art of the Island' column profiles Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first female prime minister, who preceded Margaret Thatcher by twenty years.
Open source033
31 Oct 2023
People of the island: Lyalya, historian and jewellery designer
Profile of island resident Lyalya from Samara: 236 days in Thalpe, favourite spot is Devata beach at sunset, developing her own jewellery brand tsatsky_kalo.
Open source034
27 Oct 2023
People of the island: Tayana from the Urals, 7 months on the island
Profile of a 32-year-old traveler from the Urals who has lived in Trincomalee, Unawatuna, Weligama, Mirissa, and Galle across seven months on the island.
Open source035
23 Oct 2023
People of the island: Denis, YouTube blogger for We Team channel
Profile of a 30-year-old blogger from Lomonosov who has lived in Unawatuna for 5–6 years and runs the We Team YouTube channel about life in Sri Lanka.
Open source036
17 Oct 2023
People of the island: Arti from Riga, 14 years in Galle
Profile of a 28-year-old accountant from Riga who has lived 14 years in Galle and works in blockchain integration, property development, and tax consulting.
Open source037
13 Oct 2023
People of the island: Dineesh from Weligama
Profile of a 30-year-old Weligama local running a restaurant, bike rental, and villa rental business, sharing his views on island life.
Open source038
9 Oct 2023
People of the Island: Valeria, clothing brand founder
Profile of Valeria from Moscow, 217 days in Unawatuna: trained as a lawyer, founder of a clothing brand, and a natural motivator.
Open source039
4 Oct 2023
People of the Island: Faees Mohamed, surf instructor
Profile of local resident Faees Mohamed from Galle — a surfer and surf instructor with 15 years of experience who loves Arugam Bay.
Open source040
26 Sept 2023
People of the Island: Anastasia, artist near Unawatuna
Profile of island resident Anastasia, an artist with 11 years of ties to Sri Lanka, living near Wijaya Beach close to Unawatuna.
Open source041
4 Aug 2023
Portrait of a local: Galle artist Ranaga Viru
Questionnaire interview with a local from Galle — a hotel wall murals artist who has lived on the island for 10 years.
Open source042
28 Jul 2023
Marriage and Kinship Among the Veddas of Ceylon
19th-century travel notes on Vedda marriage customs: marrying the younger sister, honouring the elder sister as a mother, and the absence of polygamy.
Open source043
26 Jul 2023
The Vedda Language: Indo-European Roots of the Word 'Vedda'
19th-century linguistic analysis: the word 'vedda' links to the Sinhala bedi (forest) and Pali hunter, indicating the people's Indo-European linguistic origins.
Open source044
22 Jul 2023
Veddas of Bubule and the Influence of Civilisation
19th-century travel notes: the Veddas of Bubule are already touched by Sinhala civilisation, while the original Veddas of Alut Nuwara shun money and remain more independent.
Open source045
20 Jul 2023
The Vedda Language and Its Link to Sinhala
19th-century travel notes describe the Vedda language — its similarities with Sinhala and how a Moorish interpreter communicated with forest dwellers in Bubule.
Open source046
17 Jul 2023
Reception by the Vedda Elder in Bubule
19th-century travel notes: the author describes a ceremonial reception in Bubule village arranged by the local headman with a decorated arch and comfortable lodging.
Open source047
15 Jul 2023
Veddas of Ceylon: Language and Counting
19th-century travel notes describe the Vedda people — their limited counting ability, religious beliefs, and a distinct language closely related to Sinhala.
Open source048
11 Jul 2023
The Lion Island 1875: first encounters with the Vedda people
Excerpt from the 1875 Letters from Ceylon: the author meets a civilised Vedda raised by a Sinhalese family and reflects on the people's cultural persistence.
Open source049
21 Jun 2023
Letters from Ceylon: The Vedda People of the Forest Country
An 1875 historical excerpt describes the small Vedda people living in the eastern forests of the island and avoiding contact even with neighboring Sinhalese villages.
Open source050
12 Jun 2023
Portrait: Lika from Veliky Novgorod, 30 Days in Mirissa
Island resident profile: Lika, 30, from Veliky Novgorod, spent 30 days on the island, loves Sigiriya fortress, and works as a psychologist.
Open source051
9 Jun 2023
Portrait: Olya Knopka from Moscow, 4 Months in Weligama
Island resident profile: Olya, 27, from Moscow, has spent 4 months in Weligama and Mirissa, loves secret beaches, and works in social media marketing.
Open source052
7 Jun 2023
Portrait: Tony Fresh from St Petersburg, 178 Days in Ahangama
Island resident profile: Tony Fresh, 30, from Saint Petersburg, has spent 178 days in Ahangama and loves the island's central hill province.
Open source053
6 Jun 2023
Portrait: Bulat from Ufa, 183 Days in Ahangama
Island resident profile: Bulat, 33, from Ufa, has spent 183 days in Ahangama and treasures the beaches and cliffs of the island's south.
Open source054
3 Jun 2023
Portrait: Stasya, Business Consultant from Mirissa
Island resident profile: Stasya, about 3 months in Mirissa, a marketing and sales-funnel consultant whose superpower is bringing people together.
Open source055
31 May 2023
Sinhalese Culture and Hospitality: Two Faces
A post about the dual hospitality of Sri Lanka's residents: some are genuinely welcoming, others have ulterior motives — plus a note on the island's vibrant local dances and music.
Open source056
29 May 2023
Portrait: Ira from Kyiv, 1.5 Years in Galle
Island resident profile: Ira, 36, from Kyiv, has lived in Galle for 1.5 years, balances motherhood and business, and loves the island's energy and sunsets.
Open source057
26 May 2023
Portrait: Sasha, Surfer from Moscow, 245 Days on the Island
Island resident profile: Sasha, 33, from Moscow, travels all over the island, stayed longest in Mirissa, and runs a surfing channel @shorebro.
Open source058
25 May 2023
Portrait: Marina, 1306 Days in Ella
Island resident profile: Marina Shalaeva, 31, has lived in Ella for over three years and cherishes Buddhist ghats at sunrise and the island's natural cuisine.
Open source059
24 May 2023
Portrait: Leonard, Age 10, from Trincomalee
Profile of the island's youngest resident: Leonard, 10, a schoolboy from Trincomalee who loves Kandy, grows ginger, and is ready to help with psychological questions.
Open source060
23 May 2023
Portrait: Mila from Moscow, 137 Days in Galle
Island resident profile: Lyudmila (Mila), 35, from Moscow, has lived in Galle for 137 days and treasures the island's energy, nature, and open-hearted people.
Open source061
22 May 2023
Portrait: Son of Maya, Island Nomad
Island resident profile: Son of Maya from Saint Petersburg has been living in Sri Lanka for over a year, constantly moving between locations, and considers his superpower the ability to energise people around him.
Open source062
25 Apr 2023
Sinhalese and Tamils: who lives on the island
The post explains the difference between 'Lankan', 'Sinhalese', and 'Tamil', and describes the island's two main ethnic groups and their origins.
Open source063
12 Mar 2023
Sinhalese: Sri Lanka's Largest Ethnic Group, History and Traditions
The 'Interesting Facts' section: the Sinhalese make up almost three-quarters of the island's population; having migrated from northern India in the 5th century, highland Sinhalese preserved a conservative way of life.
Open source064
11 Mar 2023
Traditional Dress in Sri Lanka: Sari and Sarong
The 'Interesting Facts' section explains that Sri Lanka has no official national costume but traditionally wears saris and sarongs with regional variations.
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