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Where to live in Sri Lanka

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GillBlower
  6/14/2016 06:42 EST

My wife and I are an English couple relocating from Dubai to Sri Lanka where we plan to spend a few years of what we call our ‘2nd Childhood’, we both dislike the term retirement! We arrive in Colombo on Friday 10th June and have an apartment for a month while we decide where we wish to live long term either in unfurnished rental or purchase property.
Our current ‘search area’ is too broad encompassing Colombo down the west coast and on past Galle to the South coast so we would appreciate any advice you can offer on where we might focus our attention? We want to be able to take advantage of Sri Lanka’s beautiful sea and also contribute by doing some animal charity work.

ricknobody
  8/30/2016 10:09 EST

Hello. Nice that you've decided to live here for a longer time. I live in Sri Lanka as well and i bought my house in this very nice website. You schould look at it: https://www.houses.lk/ . You can choose the location where you want to live.

Kind regards
Rick

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rusty1958
  9/15/2016 05:45 EST

Hi, this reply may be a little late given your plan to move to Sri Lanka in June - but here goes anyway:

1: My Dream Home Visa. You can get a 2 year visa to live here providing you can meet the following conditions:

a: Bring USD15,000 into the country and lodge it in a fixed deposit (in USD) for the duration of your stay
b: be able to show that you will bring in USD1500 per person each month for the duration of your stay
c: show you have health insurance

2. Purchasing a property: Foreigners can buy property - as long as it is above the 4th floor - so your choice of where to live (if you plan to buy) is limited to those areas that have apartments for sale

3. Having said that, the whole of the island has gone property development crazy and there are apartments to purchase in most major cities

4. Where to live? Depends on what you want to do and the climate you'd prefer.

i. Colombo has the benefits of city living; however it is hot, very hot! A/C is a must and with electricity prices at a premium - it is expensive to run.
ii Upcountry (Nuwera Eliya/Kandy etc - the weather is kinder - and they are building some new apartments in both cities.
iii Galle - nice small city - still has the hot climate - but if you can find something by the beach you might be ok.


5. Banking: You will have a restricted bank account which will only allow you to do some things. You won't be issued a credit card as you don't have a credit rating . . . you might be able to get around this by having a sizeable deposit - which is held by the bank against your credit card.

6. You've made a great choice!! I wouldn't live anywhere else!!

Enjoy

beasty
  9/17/2016 08:00 EST

Hi,

I just joined

I have just hit 40, run an online business and have lived in Spain and Italy (Where I am now) but i am from the UK (Scotland)

Having been here in Italy a few years, i am no longer thrilled by the weather in the winter months as i am fully acclimatised and now winter here feels like winter as opposed to WOW its 18c in january now i think OMG i am so cold.. *been here 5 years.

So i am on the hunt for an exotic place to winter, low cost with spicy food (Hey being honest) I have two dogs and want to find somewhere with a garden.

Rentals seem seem to be crazy low cost? OR has google screwed up the exchange rate?

I currently pay around 700gbp or 900usd a month rent

plan would be to come over from some time in November to end of april.

What are the rules with regard to dogs? I love my dogs and do not want them to have a stressful experience in a kennel etc...

Also,

Is it correct that as i have an income in excess of 1500usd pcm there will be no issue in entering the country for 6 months?

Thanks

I am very impulsive and it literally hit me 10minutes ago that the weather here in the south of italy is not good now and has not been for many days!

I need sunshine..

OH YES, i am about to check weather forecasts..

GillBlower
  9/19/2016 04:10 EST

Regarding your dogs, we used [email protected] [email protected]
Website: http://pettravels-srilanka.com
who were excellent and can answer all your questions.
Regarding a visa, you can stay 3 months on a tourist visa and then have that extended in country.
The 1500 USD applies to a retirement residence visa for over 55 years old.
Property is very cheap compared to Europe, but you will need to be outside Colombo to get a place with a garden. We are in Galle and found lots of options of nice houses with gardens at the prices you mention.

Phil

lisatr12
  3/13/2017 11:24 EST

Hi, rather than Colombo, you should also consider places like [url=http://travel-tourist-information-guide.com/sri-lanka-galle]Galle[/url], Trincomalee or even Arugam Bay. You can have some information about these cities from here!

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MikeAlder
  3/27/2017 00:08 EST

I will be arriving in Colombo probably in June 2017. I'd like to rent a house or apartment somewhere between Colombo and Galle for two months or so with a view to checking the locality as a retirement option.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

bodhiden1
  4/5/2017 09:52 EST

I have a credit card from Seylon Bank and as dollar account there. I am checking out the new 5 year tourist visa

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