By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Let’s not overcomplicate this.
Forget GDP. Forget global rankings. Forget fancy exposés on resilience.
The greatest asset Sri Lanka has isn’t in the ground or on the coast. It’s not in the tea leaves or the cinnamon bark. It’s not in the temples or ruins.
It’s in the smile.
That unshakable, unbreakable, warm-yet-wounded, too-tired-to-fight-but-still-won’t-quit Sri Lankan smile — that’s the real superpower.
1. Smile First, Complain Later
Got overcharged at the market? Smile.
Bus conductor didn’t give your change? Smile.
Got ghosted by your date and your electricity bill is higher than your income? Smile… then go cry into your string hoppers.
Sri Lankans don’t fake it — they prioritize harmony. They’ve mastered the delicate art of smiling first, then tactfully calling you out later… with a proverb or a parippu joke.
Smiling isn’t about denial. It’s about dignity. It’s a social lubricant that prevents friction in everyday life.
2. Smile as Passive Resistance
Make no mistake — that smile isn’t always surrender.
Sometimes it says:
- “You’re lucky I was raised well.”
- “I’ve filed your nonsense under ‘Karma Pending.’”
- “I have no intention of following your suggestion, but okay.”
It’s not cowardice. It’s covert confidence.
In the boardroom, at the embassy, during a three-hour wedding speech — Sri Lankans deploy smiles like soft power missiles.
They may nod in agreement while silently dismantling your argument with a counter smile. It’s diplomacy in motion.
3. Religion Helps. But It’s the People Who Practice It.
Whether Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, or Muslim — Sri Lankans wear their beliefs with humility.
You’ll see:
- Monks laughing over mangoes with atheists
- Priests offering curry to imams
- Grandmas lighting oil lamps and cursing mosquitoes in the same breath
Through it all? That quiet smile of spiritual clarity — life is hard, but we are still here.
In Sri Lanka, religion isn’t shouted. It’s served with tea. Faith isn’t forced — it’s offered, like seconds at a meal.
4. Crises Come. Smiles Stay.
Civil war? Smile through it.
Economic collapse? Smile while budgeting lentils.
Fuel crisis? Smile in the tuk-tuk queue while sweating into your last clean shirt.
This isn’t blind optimism. It’s learned emotional economy. Worry costs too much. Complaining is unproductive. But a smile? Always affordable. Always available.
And when tears fall, smiles follow. It’s not about ignoring suffering. It’s about surviving it with soul intact.
5. Even the Food Smiles
Let’s be honest. Sri Lankan food smiles at you.
- Hoppers curve up like they’re saying “hi.”
- Bananas peel themselves with joy.
- Even the kavum (oil cake) looks like it has a smirk.
You eat it, and somehow you feel like you were forgiven.
Meals are not just nutrition — they are emotional therapy. Cooked with care. Served with stories. Spiced with history.
6. At the Airport, the Last Thing You Remember…
You’re boarding your flight home. Behind you: spice, dust, temple bells, honks, monsoon smells.
At the final passport check, the immigration officer — who hasn’t smiled all day — looks up, stamps your passport, and finally…
smiles.
You tear up a little. You don’t know why. But you know you’ll be back.
That final smile is not goodbye. It’s a gentle nudge that says, “You belong here now.”
Final Reflection: Smile Like a Sri Lankan
The smile is:
- Armor and invitation
- Rebellion and surrender
- Memory and mission
It’s how Sri Lankans keep going when there’s no logical reason to.
So the next time life gets hard, ask yourself:
Can I smile through this, like a Sri Lankan?
And if the answer is yes, then congratulations.
You’ve learned their greatest export. And now it lives in you.
Coming Soon: My Sri Lanka – Part 12
“Gods, Ghosts, and Gossip: The Invisible Forces of the Island”
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.
