By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
In Sri Lanka, not everything is seen — but everything is felt.
There are things the tuk-tuk driver won’t say directly… but he’ll look at the moon and delay your ride. There are moments the aunty will pause in conversation — because she saw a crow tap once on the window.
Here, success isn’t only about strategy. It’s about astrology, ancestral blessings, and what your neighbor’s cousin heard at the temple.
This isn’t superstition. It’s Sri Lankan intelligence — an invisible operating system of gods, ghosts, and gossip that governs decisions more than any constitution.
1. The Gods Are Busy — All the Time
In Sri Lanka, the divine isn’t in heaven. The divine is everywhere:
- A pothole? “The gods are angry.”
- Sudden rain? “Blessing from above.”
- Lost your phone? “Bad time to travel. Venus is reversing.”
You don’t simply launch a business. You check with the kapuwa (astrologer). You don’t just get married. You consult nakath (auspicious times). Even buying a fridge can involve planetary alignment.
The gods aren’t passive. They’re on payroll. If they’re not consulted — don’t blame the outcome on poor planning.
Every family has at least one member who can draw astrological charts. Every village has a temple where wishes are tied to trees with red thread. And every election date is vetted by the stars.
2. Ghosts Are Real — Ask Your Grandmother
If you grew up in Sri Lanka, you’ve heard these words:
“Don’t whistle at night. It calls the devils.”
“Don’t sweep after dark. You’ll chase away good luck.”
“If you hear anklets at 2 AM… don’t open the door.”
This is not Hollywood horror. This is ancestral caution passed down through generations.
Even the most rational professionals will:
- Avoid certain banyan trees
- Leave milk for “the spirits”
- Say “excuse me” before peeing near a shrine
The forest isn’t empty. It’s occupied. Abandoned houses aren’t abandoned — they’re tenanted by the past. Entire streets in Colombo are known by whispered stories.
Gossip and folklore are memory systems. They encode geography, safety, and respect into oral tradition.
3. Gossip Is the National Intelligence Agency
Forget news outlets. The real facts are found in:
- The salon
- The neighborhood kade
- The three-minute tuk-tuk ride
- Your mother’s WhatsApp group
You want to know:
- Who’s buying land?
- Which minister’s son failed his exam?
- Why your cousin’s wedding got canceled?
The gossip network will tell you. And it’s 90% accurate, with 10% spicy fiction for flavor.
In Sri Lanka, gossip isn’t just talk. It’s survival strategy, reputation control, and crowdsourced truth.
Want to hire someone? Ask the tea auntie. Want to sell a house? Let it “accidentally” leak at a temple. Want to know what the country really thinks? Listen to the trishaw driver.
4. Shrines Are More Powerful Than Banks
Need a loan? Go to the bank.
Need that loan approved? Light oil lamps at Kelaniya Temple. Or tie a coin-laced cloth to a Bodhi tree. Or donate a rooster to Kataragama.
It’s not bribery. It’s spiritual lobbying.
Every business mogul has “someone” who prays on their behalf. Every political campaign has a monk in the background. And every miracle has a temple receipt somewhere.
There are gods for exams. Gods for fertility. Gods for justice. And yes, gods for revenge. Success is considered incomplete if you haven’t said thank you at a shrine.
5. Astrology Is the CEO of All Major Life Decisions
Your new employee is brilliant? Great — but is he born during Rahu kalaya?
Want to relocate your office? Check if Saturn approves.
You might laugh — but even billionaires don’t mess with Mercury retrograde. They’ll postpone meetings, delay deals, and move the wedding — all because Mars is moody.
In the West, it’s called intuition. In Sri Lanka, it’s cosmic compliance.
Astrologers are trusted like lawyers — maybe more. They don’t just forecast — they advise, arbitrate, and sometimes, dictate.
6. Everyone Believes… Even Those Who Say They Don’t
Ask a Sri Lankan, “Do you believe in astrology?”
They’ll say: “Not really… but just in case, I checked my chart before coming here.”
Sri Lankans are beautifully contradictory. They’ll:
- Read horoscopes and study economics
- Burn incense and attend tech conferences
- Respect the occult and pay taxes
This isn’t confusion. It’s cultural layering.
Science and spirit walk hand in hand. The priest blesses the computer. The software engineer bows before starting code. The CEO lights incense before the AGM.
Final Thought: The Island Is Alive — Just Listen
To visit Sri Lanka is to enter a living, breathing, spiritually-tuned organism.
You’ll feel it when:
- The wind shifts unexpectedly
- A dog howls at the wrong hour
- A stranger tells you, “Don’t go that way today”
Whether it’s gods in the temple, ghosts in the banyan, or gossip in the market — everything speaks.
If you listen, you won’t just understand Sri Lanka.
You’ll understand life.
Coming Soon: My Sri Lanka – Part 13
“The Last Lesson: Why This Island Changes You Forever”
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.