The Research Intelligence Unit (RIUNIT) together with the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London held the Sri Lanka Real Estate Investment Forum: London 2025 on Thursday, 30 October 2025 at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London. Despite having organised many dozens of investor events at high diaspora density locations around the globe during the past 15 years, this was the first major RIUNIT physical international event since 2020. Hence, this a clear turn-around in perceptions and expectations on the island nation among local diaspora and international investors.
Following RIUNIT’s UK Associate Director, Mr William Rezel’s opening remarks, H.E Nimal Senadheera, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in the UK, delivered a keynote address that highlighted the country’s progress and commitment to economic prosperity with good governance. Next, Sir Peter Heap, a member of RIUNIT’s Advisory Board, spoke of the special relationship that Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom enjoy, especially with reference to the sustained growth in trade and tourism.
Dr. Anil Priyanka Baddevithana, Senior Consultant at the RIUNIT, captured the attention of those present by presenting some insights from RIUNIT’s real estate market intelligence data that highlighted the overall robustness and tenacity of the rapidly growing sector while showing that there are important nuances within the market that investors need to be aware of. He stressed that RIUNIT’s clients and members of the company’s ‘RIUNIT Investor Club’ that covers locals and diaspora clients, enjoy the benefits of a wealth of market data, continuous market surveillance and the wisdom that comes with 22 years of delivering successful advisory services in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector.
Next up was Mr Shalaka Wijeyaratne, Executive Director for Investment Promotion & Marketing at CHEC Port City Colombo. He made a compelling presentation on its progress and ongoing contribution to Colombo’s real estate market as well as the country’s FDI. Finally, Ms. Ashinsanie Weerasinghe, Head of Business Development & Marketing Operations at Home Lands Group, excited the audience with her colourful videos and presentations on the ongoing Home Lands projects in Sri Lanka and the investment opportunities available to the diaspora and non-Sri Lankans in the audience.
During the panel discussion, the Moderator and CEO of RIUNIT, Mr Roshan Madawela, spoke of the impact of the peace dividend on the island nation which effectively kick-started the organised real estate sector from 2010 onwards. He stressed on the need to continue to build bridges and engage with all members of the diaspora communities. Mr Mario Offen, COO at Home Lands Group, updated those present on the performance of apartments as an investment asset and how this sector has benefited from the growth in tourism while Mr Tian Zheng, General Manager of Investment Promotion & Marketing at CHEC Port City Colombo spoke of how this project will propel the next generation of Colombo’s real estate, making it a world class city and fuel the Island’s economic growth with FDI. Mr Somasena Mahadiulwewa, the Head of Trade at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London, reiterated Sri Lanka’s ongoing improvement in good governance and the emerging business environment that is now characterised by a level playing field – all under a fiercely anti-corruption stance.
The RIUNIT is an international consulting company that provides market intelligence and advisory services in multiple sectors including real estate with a specialised and resolute team. The next event will be the RIUNIT Investor Forum Australia 2026. In the meantime, the ‘RIUNIT Investor Club’ continues to provide market data and guidance to members on all thing’s real estate.
CEO, Mr Roshan Madawela, said that ‘the current climate of good governance and steady GDP growth offers investors the opportunity to benefit from a very promising medium-term forecast. In the long term, Sri Lanka needs to focus on industrialisation and export growth to meet the external debt situation that will once again emerge on the horizon as a critical challenge in 7 to 8 years.’ He said that ‘the Islands real estate sector definitely needs to be better leveraged by policy makers in order that it makes a much larger contribution to the GDP growth in the long term.
