The Most Important Phrase for Expats in Colombo, Sri Lanka: ‘I Know a Gu

The Most Important Phrase for Expats in Colombo, Sri Lanka: ‘I Know a Guy’

Banana seller in Colombo, Sri Lanka iStock Photo

By 

SUREKHA AHGIR YADAV

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka–”I know a guy” is the single most important and commonly used phrase in casual business conversations in Colombo.

This South Asian city has a surprisingly sophisticated corporate scene, excellent internet connections, an array of professional advertising and digital marketing agencies – but it has hardly any human resources companies, few, if any, head hunters and nothing much in the way of talent-matching services.

So, as I launched a digital content startup in booming post-war Sri Lanka last year, I found myself baffled by this seeming gap in the market. How did local businesses secure their staff? I knew the talent was out there because all around me I saw local tech ventures powered by droves of talented, qualified young people. But how was anyone recruiting them?

Skyline of the financial district of Colombo, Sri Lanka overlooking Beira Lake. iStock Photo

The following months of repeatedly trying and failing to connect with this talent pool through job ads taught me one crucial lesson: Hiring, especially at the startup level, is done largely on the basis of deeply entrenched social networks — and not the online kind either. “Oh I went to school with him” — so he’ll make a great developer. “I remember her from choir” — she’s the accountant you need.

Within Colombo’s English-speaking business community everyone really does seem to know everyone. Unless you’re a foreigner with a small startup like me — then you know no one. Without the extensive networks acquired through classmates or distant cousins you will often get stuck.

Initially, I tried to insinuate myself into the world of local insiders by turning up at a couple of Google Business group meetings. I spent the evening sipping sweet iced coffee (a Sri Lankan staple at such events) and making small talk with some very polite people who were friendly enough but ultimately either unable to spare the time to help or effectively saw me as potential competition for the best hires.

It got frustrating.

But this was all before I caught my catcher.

Janath Gunawardene in Colombo, Sri Lanka Credit: Divaker Selliah

A catcher is the local lingo for fixer, and if you’re looking to find an office space, extend your visa, or import some IKEA furniture you’d do well to find one. Mine arrived at the end of a long line of introductions from a former colleague of an acquaintance which led me to the younger brother of said colleague’s friend who then finally produced … Janath Gunawardene.

Chatty, distracted, with a mobile phone that won’t stop ringing – the 23-year-old arrived on a misfiring moped. I hired him anyway on the strength of his design portfolio. Fortunately, I discovered his true calling very quickly. On his second day, Janath overheard me looking for an SEO (search-engine optimization) expert and he interrupted with those four words I’ve since come to appreciate: “I know a guy.”

A week later, Janath ended a hunt for an animation agency with those four magical words and two phone calls. And subsequently, I muttered about a back sprain and he conjured up a yoga instructor who turned up at the office by the end of the day.

The trick, it would seem, is this: if you don’t know anyone in Colombo, you need to find someone who knows everyone.

Surekha Ahgir Yadav is a Singaporean writer and entrepreneur based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

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