Colombo, Sri Lanka

By Betsy Burlingame

Last updated on Sep 17, 2022

Summary: Expats, digital nomads and retirees talk about what it is really like living in Colombo, Sri Lanka. They offer advice about meeting people, cost of living, finding a home and more.

What do expats in Colombo appreciate most about the local culture?

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"It is clean, people are more educated amongst south Asian people, nature is beautiful, weather is nice, great fruits and sea food," said another person in Colombo .

"Friendliness of people and their willingness to help you at every turn. I was working in London and Latvia before and I was depressed then due to the fact that I did not find genuine people around me," remarked another expat in Colombo.

What do expats find most challenging?

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"Everything is so slow. People are very proud and stubborn at times. They smile a lot, but the smile doesn't always feel sincere. There is a lack of problem solving orientation. Prices are quite high for some items and especially for foreigners. Old cars are being driven and they are very polluting," said another person in Colombo .

What are the schools in Colombo like?

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"OSC is getting smaller. Some of our friends have enrolled their children in other international schools, while others have left the country over security issues. It's a very fluid situation. Kidnappings by police, or people imitating the police, are on the increase, along with bombings and attacks in Colombo. It is sad to see the civil war destroying the country," commented one expat when asked about Overseas School of Colombo in Colombo.

"Look round all the iternational schools in Colombo-we did and decided that OSC was by far the best," remarked another expat living in Colombo with children attending OSC.

"The headmaster of the school is quite charming, at least on the surface. The school appears to be in decline. Some of the classes seem to have lost half their students in recent years. One should also consider the security situation in Sri Lanka before bringing children. Check with your High Com or Embassey. This year the airport was bombed and closed to all international travel for a time. Conditions are getting worse, so do your research before arriving," said another expat in Colombo with children at The Overseas School of Colombo.