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What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Colombo

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  • Sandro Pedace

    On coming to Colombo, I was dreading the culture shock. However, expats and local contacts gave me some great advice.

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Relocating to Colombo

About the City

For thousands of years, the conveniently located harbor of Colombo has played an integral role in the sea trading routes between the Eastern and Western worlds. Colombo was the capital city until 1982. Today, the city continues to be a major industrial hub, and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is also the largest city in the country. Known as being one of the most diverse cities in Asia, Colombo is home to a range of residents from a vast selection of ethnic and national backgrounds. Of the around 700,000 strong population, the most predominant ethnic groups are Sinhalese, Moors and Tamils. In recent years, there has been an insurgence of expats relocating to the city from overseas, and as a result, there are also sizeable communities of Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and Indian inhabitants. Sinhala and Tamil are the joint official languages; however English is widely spoken, especially in the service industry.

The Climate in Colombo

The climate in Colombo is classified as a tropical monsoon climate. The weather is hot throughout the year, with temperatures rarely dropping below 27°C (80.6°F). The only extreme change in weather that Colombo experiences is the monsoon season which takes place twice a year, between May and August and then again between October and January. Extremely heavy tropical rains can be expected during these seasons. The average annual rainfall in the city comes to around 2,400 mm. Despite the wet weather in the monsoon seasons, the city still experiences high levels of heat. Throughout the remainder of the year, the weather is extremely hot, bright and dry, with sunshine typically lasting for around 10 hours every day.

Visas for Sri Lanka

There are eight different sub categories of permanent residency visa available for expats moving to Colombo. The first and most common form of visa is the employment visa or working permit. Potential expats are eligible for this type of visa if they can provide evidence in the form of a business letter or official offer of invitation from an institution, company or diplomatic organization in Sri Lanka. This visa is applicable to foreigners who intend on working voluntarily in the country. The investor visa is available for anyone who wishes to relocate to Colombo in order to invest capital or begin a business venture. The religious visa offers permanent residency to members of the clergy and the student visa allows university students from overseas to live and study in Sri Lanka. There are other ways in which expats can obtain a residence permit and start a new life in Colombo, including the ‘My Dream Home’ visa program, which welcomes senior foreign nations to retire in the country. The visa categories are listed in full detail, and advice can be obtained from the foreign ministry official website.

Nov 28, 2024, 12:30 PM
16 attendees
Be ready to explore a familiar exciting venue with your InterNations Buddies Irish Bar and Grill is one of the most trending bars in Colombo and offers you a unique set of cocktails, drinks, and foo
Oct 31, 2024, 1:30 PM
18 attendees
Greetings, fellow members of the InterNations Colombo Community! Get ready to make unforgettable memories, connect with like-minded individuals, and experience a delightful evening of camaraderie at
Sep 26, 2024, 2:30 PM
27 attendees
We're thrilled to announce that this Month's Event will be at Floatz Pub, Marino Mall Colombo 03. This is your chance to meet new friends, mingle with fellow expats, and immerse yourself in the vibra
Aug 28, 2024, 2:30 PM
15 attendees
Hello Global Minds, Get ready for an amazing night out! Join us at the Park Street Warehouse on August 28th for an unforgettable evening of fun and exploration. It’s a great chance to discover a new

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Our Global Partners

  • Sandro Pedace

    On coming to Colombo, I was dreading the culture shock. However, expats and local contacts gave me some great advice.

  • Isabelle Jacobs

    It was fun to find other cricket fans among the expats around here and watch some matches at a Colombo club together.

Our Global Partners

Like-Minded Expatriates in Colombo

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