By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Sri Lanka looks like paradise — because it is.
Palm-fringed beaches. Sacred temples. Smiling people. Tea-soaked hills that seem to float above the clouds. But behind the postcard perfection lies a past soaked in conflict, a present soaked in resilience, and a future hanging delicately in the balance — like a Kandyan dancer mid-twirl.
To truly love Sri Lanka, you can’t just sip the tea.
You have to taste the bitterness too.
A Paradise That Has Known Pain
Sri Lanka is no stranger to strife. For a country that often ranks high on tourist wishlists, it’s also a masterclass in national trauma.
A War That Lasted 30 Years
From 1983 to 2009, Sri Lanka was engulfed in a brutal civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) — a separatist group fighting for an independent Tamil state in the north and east.
- Over 100,000 people died.
- Entire communities were displaced.
- Suicide bombings, assassinations, disappearances — this wasn’t a conflict tucked away. It was daily life.
The roots of the conflict run deep — colonial favoritism, post-independence discrimination, language policies, and broken promises. The LTTE were both freedom fighters and feared terrorists, depending on who you asked. They pioneered the use of suicide vests. They assassinated two world leaders. They created a state within a state.
The war officially ended in May 2009 after a brutal military campaign. But the legacy? It’s in the barbed wire that still fences off the north. It’s in the silence of families searching for the disappeared. It’s in the monuments — and in the places where monuments are still forbidden.
Want to understand Sri Lanka’s politics?
Start with history books, not hotel brochures.
Tsunami, Terror, and Turnarounds
If war wasn’t enough, 2004’s Indian Ocean tsunami slammed into the southern and eastern coasts, killing over 30,000 people in a single day. Families were swept away. Trains derailed. Villages vanished.
Then came:
- 2019 Easter bombings that targeted churches and hotels, reminding everyone that extremism hadn’t retired.
- Economic collapse in 2022, when fuel lines stretched for days, inflation hit triple digits, and even passports couldn’t escape corruption.
- A massive wave of youth-led protests in 2022-2023 known as “Aragalaya” — a movement demanding justice, transparency, and actual electricity.
Yet through all of this — Sri Lankans smiled. Not because they’re naïve. But because they’ve built an entire national character out of persistence.
Rebuilding the Soul of the Nation
Sri Lanka is in recovery — not just economically, but spiritually. And this isn’t the first time.
Centuries ago, they survived colonialism by three empires.
Then decades of war.
Then disaster after disaster.
Now? They’re rebuilding again.
Peace Here Doesn’t Mean Silence
Peace in Sri Lanka is loud.
It’s activists speaking truth despite threats.
It’s artists painting murals on old bunkers.
It’s mothers from opposing sides sharing tears — not blame.
It’s schoolkids learning both Sinhala and Tamil.
It’s Buddhist monks and Catholic priests protesting together.
It’s unity without uniformity.
True peace isn’t about pretending pain never happened.
It’s about remembering and rebuilding — over and over again.
Modern Struggles: Who Gets to Write the Future?
Ethnic tensions? Still simmering.
Corruption? Still lingering.
Youth? Still migrating — or fighting for something better.
There’s a battle happening — not with weapons, but with ideas.
- Should Sri Lanka look to China or the West?
- Should it stay religiously traditional or lean secular?
- Should it preserve its culture or embrace globalization?
- Should it forgive, forget, or neither?
These aren’t questions a constitution alone can answer.
They’re answered in living rooms, classrooms, and tea stalls across the country every day.
Why You’ll Love Sri Lanka Even More — Once You Know the Truth
Most tourists come to Sri Lanka expecting a tropical escape.
They leave with an emotional attachment they can’t explain.
You’ll visit temples — and wonder how such peace coexists with such pain.
You’ll ride trains — and see soldiers, smiles, and scars.
You’ll talk to locals — and realize how many are carrying silent histories.
And then you’ll understand:
Sri Lanka isn’t paradise in spite of its struggles.
It’s paradise because of how it survived them.
What Sri Lanka Teaches the World
1. Resilience isn’t a buzzword — it’s a national personality trait.
2. Beauty can coexist with brutality — and heal anyway.
3. Unity isn’t erasure. It’s coexistence with dignity.
4. Peace isn’t passive. It’s earned. And protected. Daily.
5. Democracy is messy, flawed, and fragile — but worth it.
Final Word: Don’t Just Visit — Witness
If you’ve read this far, you owe it to yourself not just to visit Sri Lanka — but to witness it. Not just the beaches, but the battle scars. Not just the curries, but the courage. Not just the elephants, but the elegies.
Come for the beauty.
Stay for the story.
And leave a little more human than you came.
Up Next: My Sri Lanka – Part 4
“From Tea Leaves to Blockchain: The Business of Reinvention”
But until then, pack your bags — and your empathy.
This is more than a destination.
It’s a lesson in humanity.
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.
