How Far the Apartment Concept has Influenced Sri Lanka

As a concept, which is universally accepted, the multi-storey apartment blocks emerged, providing an optional solution to the major prevailing problems in the cities, such as the limitation of available land areas and the rapidly increasing land values. Western countries had accepted the concept of multi storey apartments, as an efficient means of utilizing the limited land areas in the city center, thus fulfilling the quantitative requirements of housing especially for the low and middle income groups. Multi storey apartments were introduced to Sri Lanka during the latter part of British occupation. Due to the migration from rural areas to Colombo, the density of the population in the city increased rapidly. Therefore new housing strategies were introduced during the last few decades to overcome this problem.

Today the situation has become more critical, and apartments varying from low end to luxury can be seen almost everywhere in Colombo and the apartment concept is rapidly moving to other areas in Sri Lanka as well.

Apartments can be categorized as low end housing schemes, mid end apartments, semi luxury and luxury apartments. Many low end housing schemes were popular back in the day in areas like Borella and Wellawatta. Some low end housing schemes were initiated by the government as well. Many mid end apartments can be seen in areas like Wellawatta, Bambalapitiya, Rajagiriya, Negombo etc. The price ranges of these mid end apartments vary form 4 million to 9 million. With the availability of many small lands especially in areas in Colombo mid end apartments are more on the rising.

The concept of living in apartments has now become a trend in the society that it has gone up to the level of attracting foreigners who are migrating to the country permanently and for temporary reasons. Developers here have been inspired from upcoming projects both local and foreign and due to the increasing demand, they have been motivated to build properties with more luxurious features and advanced technology.

Here are few established schemes in Sri Lanka,

One of the well-established apartment schemes is Havelock city which started way back in 2004. It’s still comprises of all the facilities which includes a shopping mall, garden, Club house, Gymnasium, Reality services etc. This city of apartments is more onto the semi luxury and luxury scale and popular among the temporary and permanent foreigners who visit Sri Lanka. More than anything its location also adds value to the entire property.

Another well-established apartment scheme is Onthree20 which is located at Union place and its popular among the foreign employees in Colombo. It’s also to the high end luxurious type of apartments with all the facilities which includes super markets, gymnasium, swimming pool, kids play area etc. It’s also conveniently located at the center of Colombo.

Another established apartment scheme is the Golden enclave Ascon residencies which is situated in Dematagoda. It comprises of all the facilities including super markets, laundry, kids playing area, car park etc. Prices start from about 85000 per month.

These mentioned are only a few of the well-established completed projects. There are thousands of projects established and ongoing as well. From luxurious apartments to midrange apartments can be found in Sri Lanka especially in areas like Colombo, Kandy, Negombo etc. Since these schemes are supplying you all the necessary facilities in a walking distance and since they also provide 24 hour security, more people are changing their dreams of living in their own house, to living in an apartment.

The concept of Apartments is the ideal solution for a country like Sri Lanka with limited number of lands in urban areas and also due to sky rocketing high prices of lands.