#office spaces for rent in Colombo

[kolinmaharoof]

How to Make Money in Real Estate

The real estate market in Sri Lanka, whether it is residential property, land for sale, or commercial property for sale, has been characterised by both growth and challenges, influenced by various economic, political, and social factors. Here is an overview of key trends in the market:

Urbanisation and Development

Colombo and Suburban Expansion: Colombo, the commercial capital, has seen rapid urbanisation with new developments, high-rise apartments, and luxury condominiums. Areas like Rajagiriya, Nugegoda, and Dehiwala have also experienced increased demand for housing due to their proximity to the city.

Growth in Tourism: Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has contributed to the demand for holiday homes, hotels, resorts, and luxury villas for sale in Sri Lanka, especially in coastal areas like Galle, Bentota, and Weligama.

Housing Demand

Middle-Class Growth: There is a rising demand for affordable and mid-range housing from the growing middle class, especially in urban and suburban areas.

Luxury Market: High-net-worth individuals and foreign investors have driven demand for luxury apartments and villas, though this market has been sensitive to economic and political fluctuations.

Foreign Investment

Foreigners are allowed to invest in condominiums, but land ownership laws are restrictive for foreign nationals. These regulations have impacted the flow of foreign investment into the residential sector.

The government has been promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in real estate, particularly in large-scale projects like the Port City Colombo.

Challenges

Economic Instability: The ongoing economic crisis, high inflation, and political uncertainty have severely affected the real estate market. With rising interest rates and currency depreciation, property prices have fluctuated, and buyers have faced difficulties securing affordable housing loans.

Construction Costs: Increasing construction material costs and import restrictions have affected ongoing and new real estate projects.

Low Consumer Confidence: Due to economic hardships, many potential buyers are hesitant to invest in property, leading to a slowdown in demand in certain segments.

Trends Post-Economic Recovery

As the country works toward economic stabilisation, experts anticipate a recovery in the real estate market, especially with government incentives and infrastructure development projects aimed at boosting investor confidence.

While the Sri Lankan real estate market holds potential, especially in urban areas and tourism hotspots, it remains vulnerable to economic fluctuations, political conditions, and regulatory frameworks.

How can you make money in real estate?

Making money in real estate can be achieved through several strategies, ranging from active involvement in buying and selling properties to more passive approaches like rental income. Here are some popular ways to generate income in real estate:

Rental Income

Residential Properties: Owning rental properties (single-family homes, apartments, or condos) and leasing them out can provide steady monthly income. You can earn through long-term leases or short-term rentals (such as Airbnb).

Commercial Properties: Leasing office spaces, retail stores, or industrial properties to businesses tends to offer higher rental yields than residential properties.

Vacation Rentals: Renting out homes or properties in tourist areas can bring higher short-term rental income, though it may be seasonal.

House Flipping

Buy, Renovate, Sell: House flipping involves purchasing a property, improving it through renovation, and selling it at a profit. This strategy requires a good understanding of real estate markets, renovation costs, and buyer demand.

Quick Turnaround: Success in house flipping depends on buying properties at a discount, making cost-effective improvements, and selling quickly to avoid holding costs like taxes and mortgage interest.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Invest in a REIT: REITs are companies that own or finance income-generating real estate across various property sectors. They allow investors to earn a share of the income produced through commercial properties without directly buying or managing real estate. REITs are traded on major stock exchanges and offer liquidity compared to direct property investments.

Passive Income: Investors receive regular dividend payouts from the REIT’s rental income or capital appreciation from property sales.

Real Estate Crowdfunding

Pooling Investments: Platforms for real estate crowdfunding allow multiple investors to pool their money together to invest in a property or portfolio. These projects could range from residential developments to commercial buildings.

Small Initial Investment: Crowdfunding offers a lower entry point compared to direct property purchases, but it carries risks related to project performance and platform reliability.

Buy and Hold

Appreciation: Over time, real estate values tend to rise. Buying a property and holding onto it for several years allows for long-term capital appreciation. When you sell the property after several years, you can potentially make a profit if the value has increased.

Cash Flow: While waiting for appreciation, the property can generate rental income, providing a combination of immediate cash flow and long-term growth.

Wholesaling

Find and Sell Deals: Real estate wholesalers find deeply discounted properties, get them under contract, and then sell the contract to another buyer (typically an investor or flipper) for a profit. This can be a quick way to make money without having to purchase the property yourself.

Low Capital Requirement: Wholesaling requires minimal capital since you are not buying the property but assigning the contract to another buyer.

Real Estate Development

Building New Properties: Real estate development involves purchasing land and building new properties, either residential or commercial, to sell or lease. Developers often work on large-scale projects like apartment complexes, office buildings, or retail spaces.

Profit from Sales: Once developed, the properties can be sold for significant profit if market conditions are favourable.

Real Estate Syndication

Group Investments: In syndication, investors pool their resources to buy large properties (like apartment buildings or commercial real estate). One or more syndicators manage the deal, while investors benefit from rental income and property appreciation.

Passive Returns: Investors typically earn passive income without having to manage the property directly, while the syndicators earn management fees and a share of profits.

Fix and Rent

Renovate and Hold: Similar to house flipping, but instead of selling the property after renovation, you rent it out. This strategy allows for both rental income and potential long-term appreciation.

BRRRR Method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat): This involves buying a distressed property, fixing it up, renting it out, refinancing the loan, and using the cash-out equity to repeat the process on another property

10.Land Investment

Buy and Hold Land: Purchasing land in areas expected to develop can result in significant profits as the land appreciates in value. Investors can sell the land to developers or wait for market growth.

Subdivide and Sell: In some cases, investors buy large tracts of land such as coconut land for sale in Sri Lanka, subdivide them into smaller parcels, and sell those parcels at a higher price.

Each strategy comes with its own risks, capital requirements, and time commitments, so it is important to research the market, assess your financial goals, and decide which approach aligns with your resources and expertise.

[ananya111]

Why New Businesses are Opting for Furnished Office Space in Colombo?

In today’s competitive global marketplace, money, time and effort are the key elements playing a vital role in driving businesses. With the furnished office space being perceived as a mainstream occupancy option suitable for companies of all sizes and nature, the furnished office industry is rapidly growing at an annual rate of 73% globally in the commercial office space.

Setting up a business isn’t an easy task and looking for an office to let it thrive is even more difficult. Buying an office space for rent and furnishing it is a time consuming and expensive task. Thankfully, entrepreneurs and business owners have fully furnished offices as an option to grow their businesses. Fully furnished offices provide a productive environment and flexible working conditions thus, offering features that appeal to the younger workforce. This is one of the most important reasons why young entrepreneurs in cosmopolitan cities like Colombo are opting for furnished office spaces.

Colombo is a gateway to Sri Lanka and is the largest city of the beautiful island. Home to a cluster of high-rise buildings and hotels, Colombo sits in a very powerful position as the administrative and economic centre of Sri Lanka. Being the economic centre, a number of furnished offices for rent in Colombo are available. Here are a few reasons why new businesses are opting for furnished office space in Colombo: 

Affordable: Due to lack of funds, start-ups or small-scale enterprises seek measures that can save their expenses and help in boosting productivity. Buying an office space for rent and installing the required furniture and equipment needs a huge amount of money. Here is when fully furnished offices come into play. Ready to use     office space in Colombo allows you to rent a space that is already equipped with comfortable furniture, office equipment, and a creative environment to let you enhance your productivity. Moreover, they are devoid of any hidden costs thus, helping you save money.

Enhanced     flexibility: Opting for a furnished office space for rent in Colombo eliminates the time required for setting up an office and moving in. Furthermore, they are suitable for all kinds of businesses and offer flexible working solutions that fit their needs. Therefore, furnished offices serve as the perfect option for businesses looking to scale up or down as per their requirements. 

Constant     professional presence: Luxury     offices for rent in Colombo provide a working space equipped with modern design, world-class technology, and exceptional amenities. All these along with a prestigious business address help companies in maintaining a constant professional presence. In addition to this, having a distinguished physical address for your company instils a sense of trust among your clients and customers thus, enhancing the credibility of your business.

Finest business concierge services: The furnished     office spaces in Colombo offer a full-service administration to empower businesses. They offer invaluable knowledge and support for seamless flow of operations. These in-house experts perform all the necessary tasks to let you focus on uplifting your business without any distractions. These include helping your team to settle in, ensuring the fulfilment of your business needs, and minimising disruptions through uninterrupted IT services, remote administrative assistance, and relocation expertise.

No hassles: In order to accommodate new employees, it is very likely that an entrepreneur will need to upgrade his/her office space. Doing this in a traditional office space can be tricky and expensive. Whereas, in the case of furnished office spaces, one can easily move to larger suites on the expansion of the team without the hassle of moving in and furnishing all over again.

With every passing year, businesses are changing where and how they manage their operations. This not only creates an urgent need for a flexible workforce but also a flexible infrastructure. Hence, overall, we can say that the increase in demand for furnished office space among new businesses is seen to be fundamentally driven by the growing need for a productive environment offering flexible solutions to the rapidly changing business culture across the globe. Hence, a number of newly- emerging companies in countries like Colombo are rapidly adopting the concept of fully furnished offices over conventional offices to elevate their businesses.

[colombocooperative-blog]

Get flexible and collaborative co-working office space at Colombo Cooperative! We offer 24x7 co-working, office for rent, shared office space, virtual office, meeting rooms, conference room with fast Wi-Fi, print and copy services, free refreshment and 27/7 secured access.For more info visit us at www.colombocoop.com

[jolandblog]

Sri Lanka is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating countries I have ever visited. In the land of tea and spices, I have found landscapes covered in breathtaking green mantles, postcard-worthy beaches, an ancient history and a welcoming population that will open their arms to visitors without a second thought. It’s no wonder that its Sanskrit name means “resplendent island”. The Portuguese heritage, left in the country between 1505 and 1602, is still visible in various places, as well as in Sinhalese language itself through the sharing of words such as “bola” (ball), “lenço” (scarf), “sapato” (shoe) or “camisa” (shirt), among others. Below you will find a Travel Guide about Sri Lanka full of useful tips that will help you plan your visit to this country as thouroughly as possible.

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Praia de Mirissa / Mirissa Beach

Comboio na Nine Arches Bridge (Nine Arches Bridge Train

New Town Hall – Colombo

No topo do Little Adam’s Peak / At the top of Little Adma’s Peak

Galle

Praia de Koggala / Kogalla Beach

Sigiriya

Location

Sri Lanka is located in an island in the Indian Ocean, which has a length of 432km and a width of 224km and is home to approximately 21 million people. It is separated from India by the Palk Strait. The capital of Sri Lanka is the city of Colombo, located on the west coast of the country.

Language in Sri Lanka

The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. Both are composed of words originated from the Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch and English languages. The Sinhalese language consists of two different dialects: one in the central/western area and the other in the southern area. Tamil has 3 distinct variations: one of Batticaloa, one of Negombo and one of Jaffna. The most spoken language in the country (spoken by around 70% of the population) is Sinhalese.

English is regularly spoken by 10% of the population. Younger generations often communicate with each other entirely in English.

Some basic words/phrases in Sinhalese and Tamil:

Yes= Owu (“Ou”) – cingalês | aːm (“aam”) – tamil

No= Nǣ (“Né“) – cingalês | Ilːaj (“illai”) – tamil

Hello= Halō (“alô“) – cingalês | Vaṇakkam (“vanécam”) – tamil

How much is it? = Kee∙yȧ∙dhȧ? (“qui â da“) – cingalês | Idhevvalavu? (“idiavalave”) – tamil

Please = Ka∙ru∙naa kȧ∙rȧ∙la (“cáruná queralá“) – cingalês | Tajavu seiθu (“tayavu seitu”) – tamil

Excuse me= Sa∙maa vén∙nȧ (“sámá ven nâ“) – cingalês | Porukkavum (“porukkavum”) – tamil

Thank you very much = Bo∙hō∙mȧ sthoo∙thi (“bohome isstuti“) – cingalês | Romba nandri (“romba nandri”) – tamil

Climate in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with 2 seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Despite the country’s small size, the climate on the West and South coasts contrasts with the climate on the East and North coasts. Monsoons affect the West and South coasts from May to September and the East and North coasts from October to April. The best time to visit Sri Lanka is therefore very relative, as the West and South coasts are best enjoyed from December to March and the East and North coasts from April to September. However, it’s important to bear in mind that, despite this information, the climate in Sri Lanka can be extremely unpredictable.

The high season is from December to March, when European tourists flee the cold temperatures and invade the country. Christmas and the New Year are times when Sri Lanka is in high demand, as well as the months of July and August, when the festival season is occurring.

The highest areas of the country have lower temperatures throughout the year with averages between 16º and 20º. The coastal zones reach annual averages of 27º, reaching up to 33º from March to June.

Money in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s currency is the Singhalese rupee. Check the exchange rates here.

There are several ATMs spread all over the country, with a larger volume in the biggest/ most populated cities. The ATM’s usually accept VISA or MASTERCARD, although I had some problems in Colombo. The only bank where I managed to withdraw money on my last day there was at the Commercial Bank. There is a fee of 300 rupees for each transaction (to which you have to add the fees usually charged by your bank).

There are many places where you can exchange money in Sri Lanka, with the USD, Euro and GBP being the most widely accepted currencies. You can do this at banks or at one of the many exchange houses available, as well as in some hotels (although in this case the exchange rates may be less good and entail additional fees).

In most restaurants there is a service charge of 10 to 15% of the invoice value, which makes tipping an unusual practice in Sri Lanka.

Average prices:

1 meal in a local restaurant: 300 – 600 LKR

1 meal in a touristic restaurant: 800 – 1000 LKR

Short Tuk Tuk ride (within the city): 150 – 300 LKR

Bus Ride: 40 – 350 LKR

Train Ride (2nd class): 90 – 400 LKR

1,5L Water Bottle: 80LKR

Low-budget accommodation rate: 1500 – 4000 LKR

Average-priced accommodation rate: 4000 – 20000 LKR

Visa for Sri Lanka

In order to avoid longer waiting times at the airport on arrival, it is advisable to obtain a prior authorization to enter Sri Lanka, which you can do online. I used the ETA Sri Lanka website. On the same day I received an email authorizing my entry which I printed and presented together with my passport when I arrived at Colombo airport. This prior authorization costs 35 USD. No additional payment will be required at the airport.

The visa is valid for 30 days as of the entry date in Sri Lanka. You may apply for a visa extension at the Immigration Office in Colombo for a maximum period of 6 months. Documents required for the visa extension application: official form (you can download the file here to save time, or fill it in there), passport and a passport-type photo. The fee you pay depends on the nationality of the passport.

Transportation in Sri Lanka

It’s possible to move around inside Sri Lanka in an inexpensive and easy way. There are tuk-tuks, buses, mini-vans with AC, trains or private cars at your disposal. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Below I give you additional information about each one so that you can choose the ones that suit you best.

Tuk Tuk

The tuk-tuk is the Sri Lankan taxi. They can be found everywhere, be it in big cities or in more rural and remote areas. In Colombo there are some tuk-tuks with a taximeter, but as a rule you’ll always have to negotiate the fare before you start your journey. A good way to get a feel for the right price: tuk-tuks with a taximeter charge 50 rupees per km. If you have your GPS on hand (the app maps.me is a good option) calculate the number of kms until your destination, multiply it by 50 and then you will get the correct price for your trip. Usually within the cities/locations, I paid between 150 and 300 rupees.

Bus

A bus will take you anywhere in the country. For intercity journeys you may have to take the bus at the terminals (this is the best way to get a seat). There are always several buses leaving every 5 or every 30 minutes to several destinations. The ticket is paid inside to the driver’s assistant. There are 2 options: air-conditioned mini-vans and regular buses. The mini-vans offer you a more comfortable trip but the ticket is more expensive and since there is no room for luggage you will have to pay an extra ticket as your backpack/bag will occupy one seat. Buses usually have space for luggage in the back, and although the journey is not as comfortable as in the mini-vans, it is the most affordable transport for you. For journeys within localities you can have the buses stop at any time on the road to get in, since there are no actual stops. Oh, bear in mind that travelling by bus in Sri Lanka means seeing your life flash before your eyes a few times. Drivers are completely delusional and think that they are constantly driving on a rally track.

Train

Riding a train in Sri Lanka is one of the best experiences you can have in the country. It allows you to have contact with the local population, travel in a cheap way and enjoy the magnificent landscapes that this country has to offer, particularly on the routes between Colombo and Kandy, Kandy and Ella and Colombo and Galle. You can check the train schedule on the official Sri Lanka Railways website, but you can’t buy tickets online unless you do it through a travel agency. I have never used a travel agency before, so I cannot recommend one in particular. For these particular routes it is important that you buy your tickets as early as possible, at least 2-3 days in advance. You will be able to choose between carriages with reserved seats and carriages without reserved seats (2nd or 3rd class). On the Seat 61 website you will find more detailed information about the routes and the types of existing railways and carriages.

Private Cars

In the areas with the highest tourist demand it’ easy to find private cars to move to another place. If you want to save time and travel more comfortably, this may be a good option, but considerably more expensive. For example: a 90km drive from Ella to Tissa (near the Yala Natural Park) would cost 8500 rupees (about 53€). To reduce prices, most travelers who choose this type of transportation are looking for other travelers to share the ride with.

Motorcycle rental

You can always rent a motorcycle (something I did when I was there) for short trips within the localities. However, I don’t advise you to travel around the country like this, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience riding bikes in this type of country. The traffic is chaotic (as in any other Asian country) and this would be a very dangerous adventure. The rental of a motorcycle is about 800 rupees a day (about €5).

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HealthCare in Sri Lanka

The only mandatory vaccine for those who visit Sri Lanka is the Yellow Fever vaccine and only for those who come from high risk countries, such as Brazil. However, there are other vaccines recommended by the CDC for most travelers such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid. These recommendations obviously do not exempt the consultation of professional advice through a Pre-Travel Consultation.

Some important recommendations:

Use a lot of mosquito repellent both during the day and during the night (there is Dengue in the country and the mosquito is more likely to attack during the day);

Always drink bottled water

Peel the fruit before eating it, especially if it is bought in the street or eaten cooked.

If your meal consists of fish, make sure that the fish is properly cooked before eating it.

If you have to walk through dense vegetation after a rainstorm, wear trousers. Leeches usually appear after rain and wait attached to the vegetation for a ” prey ” to which they can cling to.

I recommend that you get yourself travel insurance before you leave for Sri Lanka. From the poor road conditions, to the crazy driving of bus and tuk-tuk drivers, to the poor hygiene conditions of some destinations: there’s a high chance you’ll have some misfortune during the journey. I usually recommend the one I normally use, World Nomads insurance, one of the most complete on the market.

What to eat in Sri Lanka

Food in Sri Lanka is one of the spiciest and seasoned food that I have had the opportunity to try in Asia. It doesn’t matter how many times and how intensely you say “no spicy” when ordering your dish: you can be sure it will always come spicy. But it’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting and tasty gastronomies that I’ve ever tasted.

Kothu Roti is one of Sri Lanka‘s traditional dishes and it is absolutely delicious. It consists of a mixture of vegetables and Roti (bread) cut into small pieces using 2 blades that produce one of the most characteristic sounds of the country. If you’re looking for economical alternatives for your meals, immerse yourself in the world of Rotis: a kind of flat bread that can be served simple or with several fillings. Everywhere in the country you’ll find the famous Roti Shops, where Rotis are made in all shapes and sizes: of chicken, vegetables, egg, chocolate, banana… Normally the prices are around 250 to 350 rupees per Roti (between €1,50 to €2,50). Curry is also another traditional Sinhalese dish, with Chicken Curry being one of the most famous (but watch out for the spiciness).

You can’t leave Sri Lanka without having tried a traditional breakfast as well. I swear you’ll be full nearly until mid-afternoon. In addition to the traditional elements of Western breakfasts (toast, juice, eggs…), you are also served a banquet of curry (usually potatoes), egg hoppers (a dough made from coconut milk and flour), with an egg on top), string hoppers (the same dough but in threads and without the egg) pancakes stuffed with coconut and honey and a separate bowl with Coconut Sambol to be sprinkled all over the food (grated coconut with coconut milk, lemon and salt). Everything is delicious, I promise!

Don’t forget to take a look at the article 10 Typical Sri Lankan Dishes not be missed

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Roti de vegetais / Vegetable Roti

String hoppers

Restaurante local / Local Restaurant

What to visit in Sri Lanka

Colombo

Sri Lanka‘s capital is located on the West coast of the country and, like all major cities in Asia, is a city with chaotic traffic and an intense lifestyle. The large skyscrapers contrast with the architectural heritage of hundreds of years scattered throughout the city, composed of ancient colonial houses, European-inspired churches (Portuguese, Dutch, British) and centenary military structures. It’s a destination that contrasts sharply with the more modest, rural and humble environment found in the rest of the country. I confess that it wasn’t one of my favorite places in Sri Lanka (perhaps because I left it to the end), but it certainly deserves a visit, even if it’s just for one day. In Colombo I recommend the ACA Hotel where I stayed one night.

Kandy

Kandy is located in the center of Sri Lanka and was in the past the capital of the country. Set amidst tea plantations, densely forested mountains and characterized by the large lake around which it was established, Kandy is also home to one of Sri Lanka‘s largest temples and one of the most important of the Buddhist religion: the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, which is said to house a Buddha’s tooth. The train journey from Colombo to Kandy is a special experience in itself, offering a magnificent landscape along the way. In Kandy, as far as accommodation is concerned, I recommend the Gruhaya Boutique Villa, where I stayed for 2 nights.

Ella

The train journey from Kandy to Ella is undoubtedly one of the highlights of a trip in Sri Lanka. The scenery is stunning: hills, valleys and mountains covered in a breathtaking green mantle. The city of Ella is a paradise for those who love hiking and trekking. There you can climb to the top of the Little Adam’s Peak or to the top of Ella’s Rock, be close to waterfalls or watch the train go over the magnificent Nine Arches Bridge. Walking along the train tracks (despite the prohibition signs at the train station) is also part of the experience. In Ella I recommend the Ella Rock House Hotel, where I stayed at for 3 nights.

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Comboio na Nine Arches Bridge (Nine Arches Bridge Train

No topo do Little Adam’s Peak / At the top of Little Adma’s Peak

Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya was once a shelter for the Brits and Scots who worked in the tea industry in Sri Lanka because of its high location in the hills, and because it offered cooler temperatures than the rest of the country. Here you’ll find waterfalls, tea plantations, parks and gardens, golf courses and racetracks (if you’re interested). It’s also a good place to explore the famous World’s End, in the Horton Plains National Park.

http://www.therock.lk

Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada)

Adam’s Peak is one of the most important places of religious pilgrimage in the world. Every year, from December to May, thousands of pilgrims come to this 2,243m-high mountain to climb the 5000 steps that lead all the way to the top. At the top a sacred footprint can be found. Buddhists claim that it is a footprint of Buddha, the Hindus of Shiva, and the Catholics of Adam. Regardless of whose footprint it is, the view from the top (especially at dawn) is absolutely magnificent. Walks are usually initiated at dawn, around 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., and the top is reached just before sunrise, at 5:00 a.m. To avoid the typical “traffic” of the pilgrimage season, it’s advisable to do the hike in the period between June and October, however, at that time, the path is not illuminated and it’s necessary to carry a flashlight. It’s possible to stop on the way to go to the toilet or to drink hot tea. The town of Hatton is a good place for your exploration.

Srilanka Travel

Arugam Bay

If surfing is one of your passions, then Arugam Bay cannot be missing from your Sri Lanka travel itinerary. Located on the East coast, it’s considered the best surf spot of the country. The town itself is quite small, with only a few hundred inhabitants, offering a quieter and more relaxed environment. The high season lasts from June to October.

Youtube

Cultural Triangle

The Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka is made up of Anaradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Sigiriya. These are destinations that cannot be missed when visiting this country, because of their historical and cultural importance. Sigiriya was indeed one of the highlights of my trip in this country. In Dambulla you can find the Golden Temple and the fabulous Cave Temple, filled with figures and religious paintings that have inhabited these caves since the 1st century. In Polonnarwua and Anaradhapura you have the opportunity to visit a variety of millenary historical ruins and in Sigiriya you will find the famous Lion’s Rock: a rock that is about 360m high where you can also see the ruins of an ancient civilization and find a magnificent view over the surrounding area. I chose to stay in Dambulla in order to explore the Triangle. In terms of accommodation I recommend the Sevonrich Holiday Resort Guesthouse where I stayed at for 3 nights.

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Cave Temple – Dambulla

Polonnaruwa

Sigiriya

South Coast Beaches

Looking for postcard-worthy beaches? Then head towards the beaches on the South coast of Sri Lanka. Here you’ll find giant palm trees that bend over the sea, sunsets that don’t even need an Instagramfilter, grilled fish eaten with your feet tucked in the sand, warm water and near-perfect waves for surf lovers. Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Midigama, Ahangama and Weligama are some of the beaches on this side of Sri Lanka. The coast is entirely coursed by the road and the railway that connects Galle to Colombo, making it extremely easy to move from area to area. As for accommodation, I recommend the Sooriya Sewana Guesthouse where I stayed for a few nights, in Mirissa, and the beautiful Sakara House, where I spent the last days of my trip, in Ahangama.

Galle

Galle is probably one of the prettiest cities in Sri Lanka, if not the prettiest. You can find traces of Portuguese, Dutch and British presence and colonial architecture everywhere: from the Dutch fort, initially built by the Portuguese and later fortified by the Dutch (it’s the largest fortification of European origin in Asia), to the St. Mary’s Cathedral (built by Jesuit priests), the National Maritime Museum or the Galle Harbour. Throughout the city there are now small charming hotels, shops and restaurants appearing, which contribute to the more artistic and sophisticated environment that it has been acquiring. It’s without a doubt a destination to include in your Sri Lanka travel itinerary.

National Parks (safaris)

If there is one thing that is not missing in Sri Lanka it’s wildlife in abundance, of many different species, types and forms. And the best way to get in touch with this wildlife is through a Safari in one of the many Natural Parks around the country. Yala is undoubtedly the most popular and extensive Natural Park of them all. Located on the South coast, it extends over an area of about 978 km2, 300 km away from Colombo. Here you will be able to see (among others) elephants, leopards, bears, deer, jackals, crocodiles and a huge variety of birds.

On my trip I chose to visit the Udawalawe Natural Park, a natural park with a smaller size, which offered me a better possibility of sighting animals. In addition, for being less popular, I could enjoy a calmer environment, with fewer tourists and jeeps, in the middle of that pure nature. In addition to these 2 Parks, there are also Wasgomuwa, Minneriya, Kaudulla, Wilpattu, among others. To visit the Natural Park of Udawalawe, I stayed in the Silent Bungalow Guesthouse (which I recommend) where I ended up buying the tour and entry tickets. (I advise you to visit during the morning in order to enjoy the fresher air and the smaller number of tourists).

Sri Lanka | Travel Guide Sri Lanka is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating countries I have ever visited. In the land of tea and spices, I have found landscapes covered in breathtaking green mantles, postcard-worthy beaches, an ancient history and a welcoming population that will open their arms to visitors without a second thought.

[hailthekaramazov]

List of Real Estate Companies in India - 2018

New Post has been published on http://www.emtinternationalrealty.com/list-real-estate-companies-india-2018/

List of Real Estate Companies in India - 2018

The year 2018 is anticipated to be a year of a combination of product or services in the industry. As a result of all efforts taken during the year 2016-17, it is starting to materialize in this year. More joint venture and joint property developments will become more in the business, with economically troubled property developers being managed by larger participants. It will also provide the industry with a fresh line of competitors. Finalization of current projects will be prioritized over introducing new ones; hence, 2018 seems to assure for a good delivery of residential properties across major Indian markets. To accomplish this, the property developers will be renovating their business procedures to improved products release and allied services, without flexing themselves more with regards to debt or quality of work.

The Government’s initiatives to increase inexpensive housing by giving national infrastructure status to this sector and introducing different tax benefits will remain to draw-in more prominent property developers to align their products to contend within this category. The affordable real estate will, as a result, become an essential segment in every property developer’s profile in 2018. Property developer could also be concentrating on their niche competence in this year, specializing in the various sectors of property, e.g., plotted property developments, housing projects, townships, and office spaces; and thus, the specialist provider can be developing in each of these categories.

List of Best Real Estate Builders in India

The following are some of the best real estate companies in India, some of them are new to the industry, and some are the pioneer with more years of experience in the industry.

Housing Development & Infrastructure Limited

HDIL has developed itself being one of India’s leading realty development businesses, with great operations in the Mumbai City Region. HDIL is a public listed realtor company in India with shares on the BSE & NSE Stock Exchanges. HDIL group has accomplished beyond 100 million sq ft of building and construction in each vertical of property in last ten years. HDIL deals with a unique set of clients, and this is shown in its portfolio that showcases premium industrial projects, townships for housing India’s middle-income families and incredibly affordable housing for the people in the low-income category. HDIL has recently branched out into recreation and cinema complex, and both enterprises profit from HDIL’s knowledge in the realty sector.

Sunteck Realty Ltd (SRL)

SRL is a Mumbai-based realty development firm, serving in the ultra-luxury and high-end housing sector. SRL takes pride in a city driven growth portfolio of about 25 million sq ft spread out throughout 24 projects at different phases of advancement and four rented out assets. SRL is well known for its powerful project implementation abilities through an internal project management staff and tactical associations with domestic and international buildings contractors, engineers, architects and brand associates. SRL deals with popular brands like L&T and Walt Disney among others to give a unique housing experience to its clients.

Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd

Founded 20 years ago, Kolte-Patil Developers Ltd is among the leading realty companies which are headquartered in Pune. The company is listed on NSE, and BSE Kolte-Patil is Pune’s most prominent property developer and has finished 10 million sq ft of monument developments in Pune and Bengaluru.

SRS Real Infrastructure Ltd

SRS Real Infrastructure Ltd is a 100 percent group of the “SRS Group” and is listed under the BSE. The company is engaged in the property development and building of more than a dozen of projects in the housing and commercial genres. The Business became a listed entity in 1995, and in 2011, debuted on the Bombay Stock Exchange also. The firm is currently managing projects in residencies, group-housing, plotted-housing, commercial Tower, IT Park, hotels and resorts, and motels.

Puravankara

Since its beginning in 1975, Puravankara has thought that there is just one mantra for excellence: Quality. This mantra combined with strict values, customer-centricity, sturdy engineering, and clarity in business functions, has positioned it among the most liked realty companies in both housing and commercial sectors. Puravankara began operations in Mumbai and has developed the significant presence in the metropolitan cities of Bangalore, Kochi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, and Mysore and abroad in Colombo, Dubai, and Saudi-Arabia.

Prestige Group

The Prestige Group owes its beginning to Mr. Razack Sattar, who visualized a success story waiting to form in the business earlier itself. Since its development in 1986, Prestige Estates Projects has developed promptly to become one of Southern India’s major Property Developers, assisting define the horizon across the Housing, Leisure & Hospitality, Commercial, Retail industries. Prestige Constructions is the only company to have won many awards and recognition for the quality of their projects and the capability to deliver finished properties promptly.

Brigade Group

The Brigade Group was set up in 1986, with real estate development as its main focus. Today, this group is among the South India’s reputable residential or commercial property developers with headquarter in Bengaluru, division offices in several cities in Southern India, a representative business office in Dubai and a certified representative in the USA. The projects expand across some major cities in South India: Chennai, Chikmagalur, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mangalore, and Mysore.

Sobha Developers

Sobha Developers is the business endeavour of Mr. PNC Menon and was commenced in 1994. This company defines the potential of the realty industry in India with his sight for information and his dedication to continually provide best-in-class products or services. The company which began as a small venture 20 years ago is currently a force to consider in the Indian realty industry. Some of its prominent corporate customers consist of Infosys, Taj Group, Dell, HP, etc

Hiranandani Developers

Hiranandani Developers belongs to the Hiranandani Group, which was established in 1978, founded by Mr Niranjan and Mr. Surendra Hiranandani, who are its current managing directors as well as the founders. With its insight to spot the changing societal patterns, Hiranandani is today a reputable realty group in its flagship business of building and construction with a pan-India and also global presence.

[izobellaird-blog]

Crescat Residencies Colombo, The Best Rental Apartments Based On Your Requirements

Need For Vacation Rentals Colombo

There may be various reasons as to why you would travel to a vibrant city like Colombo. It is a well-known holiday destination that attracts thousands of tourists on a daily basis. In addition to holiday travellers, there are also those who travel for business activities. Because it is a capital city most economically important activities take place in this part of the country. Therefore business travellers too make up a great portion of travellers to the city. No matter what purpose they travel for many are now looking at the option of finding apartments for rent in Colombo short term to book during their stay.

Selecting Crescat Residencies Colombo, The Best Rental Apartments

The choice of apartment units available

When you are looking for apartments for rent in Colombo short term you will have varying needs to find such a property. Some may travel by themselves, others would come along with their family, and some might even want to have guests over during their stay. When it comes to even some of the finest hotels, this flexibility is a bit limited. In the case of apartments for rent like Crescat Residencies Colombo you will be able to enjoy the added space and even have the choice of picking units of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms based on your requirement.

Luxury facilities on offer

Most of those who look for service apartments in Colombo look for the finest luxury standards that would otherwise be offered in 5 star hotels. In addition to that when you choose Crescat Residencies Colombo (ColomboResidencies.com), best service apartment in Colombo for rent, you will also get additional offerings like having a fully furnished kitchen in the apartment space giving you more space to maintain a home style living even when you are away from home.

The location of vacation rentals Colombo

Merely finding great quality service apartments will not be adequate to enjoy the very best of what this capital city has to offer. It is only when you are situated right in the heart of the city that you will be able to enjoy the finest luxuries. This is because when you stay in the heart of the city you can enjoy being very close to some of the most important offices and institutions of the country like banks, government buildings and most importantly sightseeing attractions.

Source :http://crescatapartmentscolombo.page.tl/Crescat-Residencies-Colombo%2C-The-Best-Rental-Apartments-Based-On-Your-Requirements.htm

[orioncity-blog]

Finding the Right Retail Space for Lease For Your Business

As an entrepreneur, finding the correct retail space for rent is a basic part of boosting your business' potential. Regardless of what sort of wander you are running, there are various things to remember to give your business the most deceivability, giving it the most potential to develop. Regardless of whether you claim a shoe store, a forte apparel store, an area basic supply, or an innovation outlet, you should consider things, for example, area, measure, possession issues, and cost. You should assess what esteems are critical to you, basic to your business, and what parts of your building will be helpful to your clients.

Initially, finding the correct area is significant for a gainful and fruitful store. While you might focus on building up your plan of action, you should begin considering your optimal area. On the off chance that there is a creating range of organizations in your town or city that could utilize whatever administrations or merchandise you are putting forth, check whether there is a reasonable retail space for rent in that specific zone. You could likewise consider moving into an officially blasting piece of town, however your lease might be higher. It is basic you consider your socioeconomics and additionally interest for your result of administration.

Consider what number of contenders there are in the range you wish to possess. As another business, it is keen to move to an area that has as couple of contenders as could be expected under the circumstances. Think about your business as filling a specialty that is required or being requested in a particular territory. Along these lines, in the event that you are opening a record store, you might not have any desire to bounce on a retail space for rent that is appropriate opposite a current record store.

You additionally need to consider estimate. What amount of size does your business need to flourish? It is safe to say that you are putting forth an extensive amount of items that requires a lot of room? You require space for your whole stock. Notwithstanding, in the event that you are putting forth one administration, or you are just offering a couple of particular claim to fame things, you would prefer not to spend more on space than you totally require.

You will likewise need to guarantee that you are on an indistinguishable page from your landowner. At the point when entrepreneurs claim the building their business involves, this clearly does not need to be a worry, so when finding a retail space for rent, you will need to make sure that your business esteems are to some degree lined up with your proprietor. For example, you need to have the capacity to keep up the business hours that you know will be valuable to your business as opposed to being constrained to what your landowner requires.

For looking office space in sri lanka please visit at this link & get helpful info.

Know more:

Orion Development (Pvt) Ltd

752, Dr. Danister De Silva Mw,

Colombo 09, Sri Lanka

Cell: +94 112 692 255 – 7

E-mail: info@orioncity.com

External Links:

Blogger

Bravesite

Storify

Doodlekit

Wix

[newstfionline]

What the World’s Emptiest International Airport Says About China’s Influence

By Brook Larmer, NY Times Magazine, Sept. 13, 2017

The four-lane highway leading out of the Sri Lankan town of Hambantota gets so little traffic that it sometimes attracts more wild elephants than automobiles. The pachyderms are intelligent--they seem to use the road as a jungle shortcut--but not intelligent enough, alas, to appreciate the pun their course embodies: It links together a series of white elephants, i.e. boondoggles, built and financed by the Chinese. Beyond the lonely highway itself, there is a 35,000-seat cricket stadium, an almost vacant $1.5 billion deepwater port and, 16 miles inland, a $209 million jewel known as “the world’s emptiest international airport.”

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the second-largest in Sri Lanka, is designed to handle a million passengers per year. It currently receives about a dozen passengers per day. Business is so slow that the airport has made more money from renting out the unused cargo terminals for rice storage than from flight-related activities. In one burst of activity last year, 350 security personnel armed with firecrackers were deployed to scare off wild animals, the airport’s most common visitors.

Projects like Mattala are not driven by local economic needs but by remote stratagems. When Sri Lanka’s 27-year civil war ended in 2009, the president at the time, Mahinda Rajapaksa, fixated on the idea of turning his poor home district into a world-class business and tourism hub to help its moribund economy. China, with a dream of its own, was happy to oblige. Hambantota sits in a very strategic location, just a few miles north of the vital Indian Ocean shipping lane over which more than 80 percent of China’s imported oil travels. A port added luster to the “string of pearls” that China was starting to assemble all along the so-called Maritime Silk Road.

Sadly, no travelers came, only the bills. The Mattala airport has annual revenues of roughly $300,000, but now it must repay China $23.6 million a year for the next eight years, according to Sri Lanka’s Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry. Over all, around 90 percent of the country’s revenues goes to servicing debt. Even a new president who took office in 2015 on a promise to curb Chinese influence succumbed to financial reality.

To relieve its debt crisis, Sri Lanka has put its white elephants up for sale. In late July, the government agreed to give China control of the deepwater port--a 70 percent equity stake over 99 years--in exchange for writing off $1.1 billion of the island’s debt. (China has promised to invest another $600 million to make the port commercially viable.) When the preliminary deal was first floated in January, protests erupted in response to the perceived sell-off of national sovereignty, a reminder of Sri Lanka’s colonial past under British rule. “We always thought China’s investments would help our economy,” says Amantha Perera, a Sri Lankan journalist and university researcher. “But now there’s a sense that we’ve been maneuvered into selling some of the family jewels.”

As the United States beats a haphazard retreat from the world--nixing trade agreements, eschewing diplomacy, antagonizing allies--China marches on with its unabashedly ambitious global-expansion program known as One Belt, One Road. The branding is awkward: “Belt” refers to the land-bound trading route through Central Asia and Europe, while “Road,” confusingly, stands for the maritime route stretching from Southeast Asia across the Indian Ocean to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Still, the intentions are clear: With a lending and acquisitions blitz extending to 68 countries (and counting), OBOR seeks to create the ports, roads and rail and telecommunications links for a modern-day Silk Road--with all paths leading to China.

This is China’s long game. It’s not about immediate profits; infrastructure projects are a bad way to make money. So why is President Xi Jinping fast-tracking OBOR projects amid an economic slowdown at home and a crackdown on other overseas acquisitions? Economics is a big part: China wants to secure access to key resources, export its idle industrial capacity, even tilt the world order in its favor. But there is also a far greater cultural ambition. For centuries, Western liberalism has ruled the world. The Chinese believe their time has come. “China sees itself as a great civilization that needs to regain its status as leader of the world,” says Kadira Pethiyagoda, a fellow at the Brookings Institution Doha Center. “And America’s retreat gives China the space to do that.”

It’s tempting to see OBOR as a muscled-up Marshall Plan, the American-led program that helped rebuild Western Europe after World War II. OBOR, too, is designed to build vital infrastructure, spread prosperity and drive global development. Yet little of what China offers is aid or even low-interest lending. Much OBOR financing comes in the form of market-rate loans that weaker countries are eager to receive--but may struggle to repay. Even when the projects are well suited for the local economy, the result can look a bit like a shell game: Things are built, money goes to Chinese companies and the country is saddled with more debt. What happens when, as is often the case, infrastructure projects are driven more by geopolitical ambition or the need to give China’s state-owned companies something to do? Well, Sri Lanka has an empty airport for sale.

Sri Lanka may be a harbinger for debt crises to come. Many other OBOR countries have taken on huge Chinese loans that could prove difficult to repay. For example, Chinese banks, according to The Financial Times, recently lent Pakistan $1.2 billion to stave off a currency crisis--even as they pledged $57 billion more to develop the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “The projects China proposes are so big and appealing and revolutionary that many small countries can’t resist,” says Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at New Delhi’s Center for Policy Research. “They take on loans like it’s a drug addiction and then get trapped in debt servitude. It’s clearly part of China’s geostrategic vision.”

The last time China was a global power, back in the early 1400s, it also sought to amplify its glory and might along the Maritime Silk Road, through the epic voyages of Zheng He. A towering Ming dynasty eunuch--in some accounts he stands seven feet tall--Zheng He commanded seven expeditions from Asia to the Middle East and Africa. When he came ashore on Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) around 1406, his fleet commanded shock and awe: It was a floating city of more than 300 ships and some 30,000 sailors. Besides seeking tributes and trade--the ships were laden with silk, gold and porcelain--his mission was to enhance China’s status as the greatest civilization on earth.

After Zheng He’s death at sea in 1433, China turned inward for the next six centuries. Now, as the country has become a global power once again, Communist Party leaders have revived the legend of Zheng He to show China’s peaceful intentions and its historical connections to the region. His goal, they say, was not to conquer--unlike Western empires--but to establish friendly trade and diplomatic relations. In Sri Lanka today, Chinese tour groups often traipse through a Colombo museum to see the trilingual stone tablet the admiral brought here--proof, it seems, that China respected all peoples and religions. No mention is made of a less savory aspect of Zheng He’s dealings in Ceylon. On a later expedition, around 1411, his troops became embroiled in a war. Zheng He prevailed and took the local king back to China as a prisoner.

[packersmoversbangalore-in]

Leasing A Moving Truck Versus Procuring Expert Service Providers: Packers Movers Bangalore

Packers And Movers Bangalore Reviews

Truck rentals of Bangalore used for #moving are designed to carry a limited amount/ quantity of items measured in cubic meters. For moving from Bangalore renting/ hiring a truck acquiring expert service providers in Bangalore then go to @ Packers and Movers in Bangalore. Although the capacity of the truck doesn’t matter if you don’t know #‪‪India‬, ‪India national cricket team‬, ‪Sri Lanka‬, ‪Colombo‬, ‪Kuldeep Yadav‬, ‪MS Dhoni‬‬ how to maximize the space doing effective packing and loading like and expert Cheap and best Packers and Movers Bangalore. Hiring a truck for moving from Moving services in Bangalore would results you the best moving results as compare with rental trucks hiring by you. Packers and Movers in Bangalore comprehend that it can be very stressful to drive a large rental trucks cross country or even just cross town. At Cheap and best Packers and Movers Bangalore our pro moving truck drivers are 24*7 hrs available to assist in your local or long distance move. “No drive is too long or short” #need trained and insured drivers in Bangalore than leave it to trained and insured drivers of Moving services in Bangalore lead by Packers and Movers in Bangalore to get your belongings to your new home or office. Benefits of using Cheap and best Packers and Movers Bangalore rental moving truck drivers….. 1). The difference between leasing moving truck and service providers → well on the demand of our queries Moving services in Bangalore is solving out with brief knowledge. Well renting a leasing truck are often independently owned and operated by some agencies of Bangalore; the point from where the truck moves at the end of the story it should be right there again. It can only cover small distances. Whereas hiring professional moving services in Bangalore with Packers and Movers in Bangalore is meant for nationalism connected chain and can cover long distances with full security and time taking too if the distance requires. 2). When should you hire a rental truck → while you are moving within a town for a small distance from your own house/ office than renting a moving truck in Bangalore can be a good option for you; if and only if you are performing every task by your own and renting a truck is also suiting in your budget. This blend of DIY tasks plus renting truck can be a good mixture for your wealth. Movers and Packers in Bangalore always gives you good advice keeping our profit aside. 3). When should you hire professional service providers → while no matter if you are moving within town or not but are acquiring any company for packing and #loading than giving them as responsibility for moving with their trucks is the #best opt. because a quotation concludes all. 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When you are hiring just truck; leasing a moving truck the list of money usages increases whereas beyond the limit you think Packers and Movers in Bangalore has already been indulge themselves furnishing with professional, expertise and a stress free moving service packages in Bangalore on the account of affordable price quotes in Bangalore. Cheap and best Packers and Movers Bangalore is being a by far updating service providers moving trucks with a professional knowledge and hand can be the top desired #move you have even imagine in your life. Movers and Packers Bangalore price quotes is the best ever quotation schemes you can even compare too. Plan your move with Packers and Movers in Bangalore opt for only moving trucks in Bangalore or learn more about additional available services @Packers and Movers Bangalore price quotes; Packers and Movers Bangalore charges; Packers and Movers Bangalore cost; Moving services in Bangalore; Cheap and best packers and movers Bangalore; Local shifting charges approx packers and movers Bangalore. Packers Movers Electronics City BangalorePackers Movers Marathahalli Colony BangalorePackers Movers Indiranagar BangalorePackers Movers Koramangala BangalorePackers And Movers JaipurPackers And Movers Chandigarh Source :- http://blog.packersmoversbangalore.in/2017/09/leasing-a-moving-truck-versus-procuring-expert-service-providers-packers-movers-bangalore.html

[osimint]

What the World’s Emptiest International Airport Says About China’s Influence

The four-lane highway leading out of the Sri Lankan town of Hambantota gets so little traffic that it sometimes attracts more wild elephants than automobiles. The pachyderms are intelligent — they seem to use the road as a jungle shortcut — but not intelligent enough, alas, to appreciate the pun their course embodies: It links together a series of white elephants, i.e. boondoggles, built and financed by the Chinese. Beyond the lonely highway itself, there is a 35,000-seat cricket stadium, an almost vacant $1.5 billion deepwater port and, 16 miles inland, a $209 million jewel known as “the world’s emptiest international airport.”

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the second-largest in Sri Lanka, is designed to handle a million passengers per year. It currently receives about a dozen passengers per day. Business is so slow that the airport has made more money from renting out the unused cargo terminals for rice storage than from flight-related activities. In one burst of activity last year, 350 security personnel armed with firecrackers were deployed to scare off wild animals, the airport’s most common visitors.

Projects like Mattala are not driven by local economic needs but by remote stratagems. When Sri Lanka’s 27-year civil war ended in 2009, the president at the time, Mahinda Rajapaksa, fixated on the idea of turning his poor home district into a world-class business and tourism hub to help its moribund economy. China, with a dream of its own, was happy to oblige. Hambantota sits in a very strategic location, just a few miles north of the vital Indian Ocean shipping lane over which more than 80 percent of China’s imported oil travels. A port added luster to the “string of pearls” that China was starting to assemble all along the so-called Maritime Silk Road.

Sadly, no travelers came, only the bills. The Mattala airport has annual revenues of roughly $300,000, but now it must repay China $23.6 million a year for the next eight years, according to Sri Lanka’s Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry. Over all, around 90 percent of the country’s revenues goes to servicing debt. Even a new president who took office in 2015 on a promise to curb Chinese influence succumbed to financial reality.

To relieve its debt crisis, Sri Lanka has put its white elephants up for sale. In late July, the government agreed to give China control of the deepwater port — a 70 percent equity stake over 99 years — in exchange for writing off $1.1 billion of the island’s debt. (China has promised to invest another $600 million to make the port commercially viable.) When the preliminary deal was first floated in January, protests erupted in response to the perceived sell-off of national sovereignty, a reminder of Sri Lanka’s colonial past under British rule. “We always thought China’s investments would help our economy,” says Amantha Perera, a Sri Lankan journalist and university researcher. “But now there’s a sense that we’ve been maneuvered into selling some of the family jewels.”

As the United States beats a haphazard retreat from the world — nixing trade agreements, eschewing diplomacy, antagonizing allies — China marches on with its unabashedly ambitious global-expansion program known as One Belt, One Road. The branding is awkward: “Belt” refers to the land-bound trading route through Central Asia and Europe, while “Road,” confusingly, stands for the maritime route stretching from Southeast Asia across the Indian Ocean to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Still, the intentions are clear: With a lending and acquisitions blitz extending to 68 countries (and counting), OBOR seeks to create the ports, roads and rail and telecommunications links for a modern-day Silk Road — with all paths leading to China.

This is China’s long game. It’s not about immediate profits; infrastructure projects are a bad way to make money. So why is President Xi Jinping fast-tracking OBOR projects amid an economic slowdown at home and a crackdown on other overseas acquisitions? Economics is a big part: China wants to secure access to key resources, export its idle industrial capacity, even tilt the world order in its favor. But there is also a far greater cultural ambition. For centuries, Western liberalism has ruled the world. The Chinese believe their time has come. “China sees itself as a great civilization that needs to regain its status as leader of the world,” says Kadira Pethiyagoda, a fellow at the Brookings Institution Doha Center. “And America’s retreat gives China the space to do that.”

It’s tempting to see OBOR as a muscled-up Marshall Plan, the American-led program that helped rebuild Western Europe after World War II. OBOR, too, is designed to build vital infrastructure, spread prosperity and drive global development. Yet little of what China offers is aid or even low-interest lending. Much OBOR financing comes in the form of market-rate loans that weaker countries are eager to receive — but may struggle to repay. Even when the projects are well suited for the local economy, the result can look a bit like a shell game: Things are built, money goes to Chinese companies and the country is saddled with more debt. What happens when, as is often the case, infrastructure projects are driven more by geopolitical ambition or the need to give China’s state-owned companies something to do? Well, Sri Lanka has an empty airport for sale.

Sri Lanka may be a harbinger for debt crises to come. Many other OBOR countries have taken on huge Chinese loans that could prove difficult to repay. For example, Chinese banks, according to The Financial Times, recently lent Pakistan $1.2 billion to stave off a currency crisis — even as they pledged $57 billion more to develop the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “The projects China proposes are so big and appealing and revolutionary that many small countries can’t resist,” says Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at New Delhi’s Center for Policy Research. “They take on loans like it’s a drug addiction and then get trapped in debt servitude. It’s clearly part of China’s geostrategic vision.”

This charge conjures the specter of colonialism, when the British and Dutch weaponized debt to take control of nations’ strategic assets. China insists it is nothing like a colonial power. Its appeal to developing countries, after all, is often based on a shared negative experience of colonialism — and the desire to have cooperative “win-win” trade and investment relationships. Unlike Western countries and institutions that try to influence how developing countries govern themselves, China says it espouses the principle of noninterference. If local partners benefit from a new road or port, the Chinese suggest, shouldn’t they be able to “win,” too — by securing its main trade routes, building loyal partnerships and enhancing its global prestige?

The last time China was a global power, back in the early 1400s, it also sought to amplify its glory and might along the Maritime Silk Road, through the epic voyages of Zheng He. A towering Ming dynasty eunuch — in some accounts he stands seven feet tall — Zheng He commanded seven expeditions from Asia to the Middle East and Africa. When he came ashore on Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) around 1406, his fleet commanded shock and awe: It was a floating city of more than 300 ships and some 30,000 sailors. Besides seeking tributes and trade — the ships were laden with silk, gold and porcelain — his mission was to enhance China’s status as the greatest civilization on earth.

After Zheng He’s death at sea in 1433, China turned inward for the next six centuries. Now, as the country has become a global power once again, Communist Party leaders have revived the legend of Zheng He to show China’s peaceful intentions and its historical connections to the region. His goal, they say, was not to conquer — unlike Western empires — but to establish friendly trade and diplomatic relations. In Sri Lanka today, Chinese tour groups often traipse through a Colombo museum to see the trilingual stone tablet the admiral brought here — proof, it seems, that China respected all peoples and religions. No mention is made of a less savory aspect of Zheng He’s dealings in Ceylon. On a later expedition, around 1411, his troops became embroiled in a war. Zheng He prevailed and took the local king back to China as a prisoner.

The unsanitized version of Zheng He’s story may contain a lesson for present-day China about unintended consequences. Pushing countries deeper into debt, even inadvertently, may give China leverage in the short run, but it risks losing the good will essential to OBOR’s long-term success. For all the big projects China is engaged in around the world — high-speed rail in Laos, a military base in Djibouti, highways in Kenya — arguably its most perilous step so far may be taking control of the foundering Hambantota port. “It’s folly to take equity stakes,” says Joshua Eisenman, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin. “China will have to become further entwined in local politics. And what happens if the country decides to deny a permit or throw them out. Do they retreat? Do they protect?” China promotes itself as a new, gentler kind of power, but it’s worth remembering that dredging deepwater ports and laying down railroad ties to secure new trade routes — and then having to defend them from angry locals — was precisely how Britain started down the slippery slope to empire.

Brook Larmer is a contributing writer for the magazine. His last article was about a Chinese-owned uranium mine in Namibia.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/13/magazine/what-the-worlds-emptiest-international-airport-says-about-chinas-influence.html

[theexecutivecentre]

Benefits of Virtual Office Space for Small Businesses

If you own a small business, you should certainly consider a virtual office. You could be sitting in Colombo, Bangalore, Hyderabad or anywhere else in the world, but having a virtual office means many advantages for your business. Read on to find out more on how a virtual office in Colombo or a virtual office in Hyderabad, for instance, can help.

Zero setting-up costs: If you are a small business and want to work in a professional set-up and atmosphere you would have to invest in setting up an office, either renting or owning one, infrastructure, office supplies, HR staff, training and administrative wing etc. Instead if you were to opt for a virtual office in Colombo or any other city you wish to, all you have to do is just pay rent for the time you need the facilities.

A prestigious corporate address: By opting for a virtual office in Hyderabad or any other city, you can gain access to a virtual address. Sometimes, even though your business doesn’t need a specific location and you are working on your laptop wherever you go, you may need an address. A corporate address in a CBD location would bring prestige and a professional touch to your business.

Secretarial and admin/operational assistance: A virtual office in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Colombo or anywhere else in the world means access to secretarial assistance, receptionist services, call forwarding and even someone who handles all your mails and queries, even though you may be working at home. A dedicated telephone line for your business/firm and calls that are answered in languages of the local area and English would be a boon for any small business. Also, most virtual office service providers offer call transfer and round-the-clock voicemail facilities.

If you want to know more “Advantages of Having a Virtual Office for Small Business“, you can explore our Blog.

Source: Advantages of Having a Virtual Office for Small Business

[kolinmaharoof]

What is the most profitable commercial real estate

Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean, has been experiencing significant growth in its real estate sector over the past decade. As the country continues to develop its infrastructure and attract both local and foreign investments, the commercial property landscape has become increasingly diverse and lucrative. For investors looking to capitalise on this burgeoning market, understanding the most profitable commercial real estate options is crucial. From bustling urban centres to serene coastal areas with "Land For Sale" signs dotting the landscape, Sri Lanka offers a wide array of opportunities for savvy investors.

Urban Office Spaces: The Backbone of Commercial Real Estate

One of the most consistently profitable segments of Sri Lanka's commercial real estate market is urban office spaces, particularly in Colombo, the country's commercial capital. The demand for modern, well-equipped office spaces has been on the rise, driven by:

The growth of the service sector, including IT and BPO industries

Increasing foreign direct investment

The expansion of local businesses

Prime locations such as Colombo 1, 2, and 3 command the highest rents and offer the best returns on investment. These areas are home to major corporations, financial institutions, and government offices, ensuring a steady demand for high-quality office spaces.

Retail Spaces: Capitalising on Consumer Culture

The retail sector in Sri Lanka has been undergoing a transformation, with modern shopping malls and mixed-use developments becoming increasingly popular. Key factors contributing to the profitability of retail spaces include:

Rising disposable incomes and changing consumer habits

Growth of tourism, creating demand for upscale shopping experiences

Expansion of international brands into the Sri Lankan market

Cities like Colombo, Kandy, and Galle are particularly attractive for retail investments, with shopping centres and high-street retail spaces offering strong returns.

Industrial and Logistics Properties: Fuelling Economic Growth

As Sri Lanka positions itself as a key logistics hub in South Asia, industrial and logistics properties have become increasingly profitable. Key drivers include:

Development of major ports and airports

Government initiatives to promote manufacturing and exports

Growth of e-commerce, necessitating modern warehousing facilities

Areas such as Katunayake, Biyagama, and Hambantota, with their proximity to ports and airports, are prime locations for industrial real estate investments.

Hospitality and Tourism-Related Properties

Sri Lanka's tourism industry has been a significant contributor to the country's economy, making hospitality-related properties an attractive investment option. While villas for sale in Sri Lanka often cater to the luxury tourism market, larger commercial properties in this sector include:

Hotels and resorts

Serviced apartments

Mixed-use developments with a tourism focus

Popular tourist destinations such as the southern coast, the cultural triangle, and the hill country offer excellent opportunities for hospitality investments.

Agricultural Land: A Unique Commercial Opportunity

While not traditionally considered commercial real estate, agricultural land in Sri Lanka can be a highly profitable investment, particularly for export-oriented crops. Coconut land for sale in Sri Lanka is a common sight, as coconut plantations are a significant part of the country's agriculture sector. Other profitable agricultural investments include:

Tea estates in the central highlands

Rubber plantations

Spice gardens

These properties can provide steady income through crop sales and potentially through agro-tourism initiatives.

Mixed-Use Developments: The Future of Urban Commercial Real Estate

Mixed-use developments have gained popularity in recent years, offering a blend of residential, commercial, and retail spaces. These projects are particularly profitable due to:

Efficient land use in urban areas

Diverse income streams from various property types

Creation of self-sustained communities, attracting tenants and visitors

Cities like Colombo and Kandy are seeing an increase in mixed-use developments, with projects like Cinnamon Life and One Galle Face leading the way.

Factors Influencing Profitability

When considering commercial property for sale in Sri Lanka, several factors can influence the profitability of an investment:

Location: Properties in prime areas with good infrastructure and connectivity tend to yield higher returns.

Economic Zones: Special economic zones and export processing zones offer tax incentives and other benefits, making properties in these areas potentially more profitable.

Infrastructure Development: Ongoing and planned infrastructure projects, such as highways, railways, and smart city initiatives, can significantly impact property values and rental yields.

Legal and Regulatory Environment: Understanding Sri Lanka's property laws, foreign ownership regulations, and tax implications is crucial for maximising profitability.

Market Trends: Keeping abreast of market trends, such as the shift towards sustainable and green buildings, can help investors make informed decisions.

Challenges and Considerations

While the commercial real estate market in Sri Lanka offers significant profit potential, investors should be aware of certain challenges:

Political and Economic Stability: Sri Lanka has faced periods of political uncertainty and economic challenges, which can impact the real estate market.

Currency Fluctuations: For foreign investors, currency exchange rate fluctuations can affect the overall profitability of investments.

Bureaucracy: Navigating the bureaucratic processes involved in property transactions can be time-consuming and complex.

Market Saturation: Some segments of the market, particularly in urban areas, may be approaching saturation, requiring careful analysis before investment.

Environmental Concerns: Coastal properties and developments in ecologically sensitive areas may face increased scrutiny and regulations.

The commercial real estate market in Sri Lanka offers a diverse range of profitable investment opportunities, from urban office spaces to agricultural lands. The key to success lies in understanding the market dynamics, carefully selecting locations, and aligning investments with the country's economic growth trajectory.

For investors willing to navigate the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities, Sri Lanka's commercial real estate sector presents the potential for significant returns. As the country continues to develop and attract international attention, the demand for high-quality commercial properties is likely to grow, further enhancing the profitability of well-chosen investments.

Whether it is a modern office tower in Colombo, a beachfront resort in the south, or a coconut plantation in the rural interior, Sri Lanka's commercial real estate market has something to offer for every type of investor. By carefully considering the factors influencing profitability and staying informed about market trends, investors can position themselves to benefit from this dynamic and growing sector of the Sri Lankan economy.

[ananya111]

Smart Meeting Rooms - Features

A smart meeting room is an essential element of a smart office. It consists of all the advanced technological tools that are used for conducting a productive meeting experience. Our video conferencing facility in Colombo allows in-office and remote attendees to work together without having to depend on the location.

Here are some of the features of our conference rooms for rent in Colombo.

Advanced Video Conferencing Tools

A video conferencing software can be considered as one of the most essential features of every meeting room, especially if it is a smart meeting room. These tools offer a smooth interaction with employees and clients and help in scheduling your plan, invite others and start a video conference.

 Advanced Video Conference Camera

 A video conference camera makes distributed teams interact together at the same time. These cameras can be operated from computers, laptops, and other devices so that the live footage of the meeting is displayed to all.

Advanced video conference cameras provide a panoramic view of the room, making distant team members understand everything that is happening in the room and track the conversation. It encourages a collaborative and productive environment that lets every employee propose and share their views and plans. Smart video conference cameras offer the best quality video and audio. Their advanced technology can adjust to the requirements of the employees and clients taking part in the meeting.

 Whiteboard Devices

Whiteboards can be defined as a portable productivity tool, used by in-office as well as remote workers. These whiteboards can share ideas with your team members and help you in noting down and sending your thought process and workflow with others. Our meeting rooms for rent in Colombo consist of high-quality wall-mounted whiteboards or rolling portable whiteboards.

Advanced meeting rooms are generally installed with smart whiteboards. It is easier to view and share ideas among distant participants using this accessory. They are connected with various innovative and collaborative apps so that written content can be shared with the participants after the meeting is over. It allows everyone to know the point of discussion of the meeting.

 Advanced Analytics and Problem-Solving Tools

Smart meeting rooms consist of different analytics tools that assist IT professionals to see how meetings are conducted so that they can make necessary changes and enhance the experience of the employees and clients. These tools assist professionals to know everything about the meeting spaces.

Our conference room for rent in Colombo is ideal for hosting all kinds of events. It is available to both members as well as non-members of the executive centre. We will provide you with well-equipped, simple and yet the most effective meeting rooms for hosting events.

[visitsrilanka]

Office space for rent in Colombo 8 has been published on Real Estate - Visit Sri Lanka - https://visitsrilanka.com/property/properties/office-space-for-rent-in-colombo-8/ -

[colomboofficespacelk-blog]

Knowing Some Informaiton about Office Spaces for Rent in Colombo

Located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte suburb or the parliament capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo is the district capital of Colombo District. Furthermore, it is also the largest city and the commercial, industrial and cultural capital of Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the strong purchasing power makes it one of the most prosperous regions in South Asia.

It has mostly had strong growth rates in recent years. All of these can help create a good business climate for the businesses who want to set up their business or expand their business in this city. However, running a business requires to select the perfect office spaces for rent in Colombo.

The office spaces for rent in Colombo can be connected by the Sri Lanka Railways , the state-run railway operator. This means that this city is an ideal place for the business. There are are over hundreds of offices that are currently for rent in Colombo. Facing these massive options, you need to first set some standards so that you can narrow down your choices and will eventually land on the best office for rent in this city. It is vital to go on the internet and check the available options. There are some factors and details to keep in mind when evaluating the location of a building.

[ananya111]

How Office Amenities Boost Team Productivity

Workspace amenities and workplace culture play a significant role in the output of an organization. As employees are the strength of an organization, their physical and mental well-being is crucial as it boosts productivity. Thus, adequate advanced amenities along with a good work culture are two essential criteria for creating a productive environment and determining employee loyalty. Our business centre in Colombo provides all the necessary amenities.

Let us have a look at how office amenities can improve team productivity.

Introducing Natural Elements Influences Work Output Positively

Studies reveal that natural light, warm temperature, and a certain level of ambient noise play a key role in improving employee engagement. Employees' productivity increases in workspaces that bring in natural elements. Companies must aim to maximize natural lighting and adjustable lighting systems as it lowers eye strain, headache, and stress. Adding greenery to workspaces is also an effective step as it cleans the air and provides a calm atmosphere.

Encourage Technological Advancement

Today, an office without advanced equipment that performs different functions is unimaginable. Our office space on rent in Colombo has automated board rooms with seamless wi-fi connectivity, state-of-the-art infrastructure, expertly crafted IT solutions, high-performance audio/visual technology, and more. 

We have also installed digital boards and flip charts in our office for carrying out discussions, training sessions, and to conduct meetings more efficiently. All such amenities in an office boost employee productivity.

On-Site Fitness Centers

On-site fitness centres are one of the most effective ways to retain old employees and attract new talent. Maintaining fitness boosts employee morale and lowers the number of absentees.

Various well-reputed companies such as Unilever have developed a “Wellbeing Zone” within their office where employees can opt for different fitness activities that include yoga, massage, and stretching. Besides, many companies have also introduced a sleeping zone known as "nap pods" for employees to recharge and revitalize.

Companies must invest in employees’ health and mental wellness as it plays a key role in influencing their work rate. From installing fitness equipment to creating a dedicated area or a space that encourages mental wellbeing is something that all companies should ideally offer their employees.

Create a Collaborative Environment

Every company must try to create a collaborative environment inside the office where the employees get the opportunity to meet new people. We organize various networking events in our coworking office space in Colombo where one can collaborate with industry leaders, view product exhibitions that support a cause, and several other activities. 

Besides offering a valuable experience to employees, it is also highly beneficial for companies as one gets seamless business transition and connectivity through such events. 

Our business centre in Colombo offers a perfect combination of advanced coworking workspace with all the necessary amenities and a productive environment to work. You will get serviced offices, meeting rooms, co-working spaces, and virtual offices, comprising a healthy work culture that will motivate employees to maximize their output.