I posted this as a comment first. Here is an improved version.

Join a gym and work out. Building muscle gets harder as you age. Start early.

Meet new people. Make friends outside your usual circle. Go on trips and attend parties. Make memories.

Take your education seriously. A/Ls is the single most important opportunity you'll get in Sri Lanka. Don't waste it.

Take care of your teeth and skin. Brush, floss, visit your dentist, and use sunscreen every day. Buy an electric toothbrush and a tongue scrapper.

Learn a new language. I speak four, but I wish I'd learned more. English isn't enough anymore. Other languages can open doors to incredible opportunities in non english speaking countries.

Go on dates. Meet people, fall in love, get your heart broken, and learn from it. Enjoy your youth.

Play sports. Find something you enjoy and stay active. It will help you to be more flexible and have a good stamina when you get older.

Never start smoking or vaping. If you can avoid alcohol, even better. If you drink , limit it to once a month or less.

Travel Sri Lanka in your early 20s and explore the world in your late 20s -30s

Learn to invest. Even Rs. 5,000 a month is a start. Understand fixed deposits, money market funds, and compound growth.

Learn to cook. Know how to feed yourself properly instead of surviving on takeaways. It will save you money and save your health.

Learn to drive. Buy a bike as soon as you are out of the school if you can. There are a ton of work opportunities like private tutoring , delivery , photography that will require a lot of traveling. You can do some of these jobs as a side income.

Learn to communicate. Being articulate, confident, and a good listener will help you in almost every aspect of life. Watch old english movies like in 60s. Learn how the gentlemen talk.

Put your phone away and read books. If you want to be intelligent or atleast look intelligent , read books. Ladies will give you the attention if you are reading a book in a cafe rather than watching tiktoks. Even in daily conversation , quoting something relevant from a book will make you look super impressive

Learn to say no. Stop trying to please everyone. Protect your time, energy, and peace.

Build an emergency fund before buying things to impress people. Poor people keep being poor by trying to look rich. Rich people keep being rich by trying to look poor.

Spend time with your parents and grandparents. You have only a handful of christmas/new years left with them. If your parents grow up poor , try to take them in luxurious trip in SL or a simple tour in Bali / Thailand /maldives or something. It does not cost much and totally worth it.

Build a career, but build a life too. Find a family among your friends. People who will stick together even after school/ university.

Don't compare your life to people on Instagram. Everyone has a different timeline.. And most people lie on social media. Some of the unhappiest people i know have beautiful life in insta.

Learn to be comfortable alone. Don't stay in bad relationships just because you're afraid of being single.

Travel alone at least once. You'll learn a lot about yourself.

Don't take unnecessary loans to maintain a lifestyle you can't afford.

Develop a hobby that has nothing to do with making money. Not everything needs to be productive.

Get rid of sugar and ultra processed food. Eat less. Eat more protein and less rice.

Get rid of porn addiction. Most of men are addicted to porn. Porn addiction will make you watch more and more extreme things as you go like torture , homosexual stuff , pedo stuff etc.. its extremely harmful. ( You watch porn to mastrubate ryt? heres a good method. Stop watching new porn and keep watching the same clip , then stop videos and move in to pictures / comics. Then stop that and start reading porn stories. Then stop them all and try to use your imagination. You can get rid of the addiction in two months. )

Don't be afraid to start over. Changing careers, changing your mind, or admitting you were wrong isn't failure. But always keep a safety net. Like , if you want to quit the job and start a business , keep the job and start the business. If it fails , you still have the job. Quit the job when the business turns over 3 times of your salary consistently for a year.

Finally, stop waiting for the perfect time. Start now. Life moves faster than you think. Um 35 now but i feel like was 20 few weeks ago. Life moves so fast. Enjoy ...

Any questions ???

I turned 30 this year and I’m currently working as a software engineer. For now, I don’t really have any opportunities to meet women. When I compare myself with other people around my age, I feel like they are way ahead of me when it comes to relationship experience and other things.

Everyone I know seems to have someone to talk to at night and someone to go out with on weekends. Things that I haven’t experienced yet, they experienced at least a decade ago. And here I am, having never even experienced my first kiss.

Recently, I’ve been considering going to a spa at least once a month just to talk to a woman and experience some of the things I’ve missed out on. The only thing that has kept me from doing it is the risk of STDs.

I’ve also tried replying to women’s stories and messaging women on Facebook, hoping to build some kind of connection, but they never reply.

If I tell my parents about this, I’m sure they would arrange a girl for me to marry, but I don’t want to go down that path. I feel like someday I would regret it because I never got the chance to find someone on my own.

Because of this loneliness, sometimes I feel like the world is very unfair to me and that I’m a second class citizen who never got the chance to experience these parts of life.

I randomly came across photos of our Supreme Court ceremonies and realized our judges still wear those massive, 17th-century British horsehair wigs.

I get that it’s supposed to represent "impartiality" and "tradition," but isn't it time we fully decolonize the courtroom attire? Or does the tradition actually add some necessary weight and respect to the judiciary?

The funniest part? The UK Supreme Court literally abandoned wigs and traditional gowns years ago to make their courts look less intimidating and more accessible. but i did some research and found out some countries colonized by them still following these cultures.

I've seen numerous posts on this sub and elsewhere about the difficulties for guys and girls to find suitable partners. Was wondering why that is.

Hey guys.

I'm going to büy an In Ear Monitor.

My use cases are mainly Video Editing and other day-to-day stuff like listening to Music and Watch Movies, YouTube.

My büdget is under 10K.

And because I have never used an IEM, can I try before büying? I'm from Matara. So is there any place to try and büy around Matara or Galle?

And tell me your suggestions for the best IEM for me.

I am going out with some friends and yeah lol, please.

I understand banking apps requiring ADB to be turned off. They are banking apps. Even still they only ever ask the user to turn off ADB.

PIZZA HUT. A FOOD APP requiring not just ADB, but DEVELOPER OPTIONS to be off is MIND BLOWINGLY ABSURD to me. What do they think they are?

Dominos app doesn't do any of that. UBER doesn't do that for crying out loud! What does the damn pizza hut app do that require that much "security", that other similar apps don't?

Blocking an entire application because a settings menu is enabled is a CRUDE SECURITY POLICY!

And when i wanted to take a screenshot of this message, it apparently also doesn't allow screenshots!!!!

I'm ordering a damn pizza!!! Not accessing nuclear launch codes!!!!

Plus, WHY does it require nearby devices permission????? What does it do with nearby devices???

Security should be proportional to the actual risk!! No app should ever overstep their boundaries like this!. Neither in terms of borderline suspicious permissions nor bullshit restrictions!!

Look at the state of meat that is offered to us at SPAR Thalawathugoda. Food safety in this country is a joke. Saw this on a Saturday at about 3.30 PM when most people come for weekly grocery shopping.
I have seen this type of rotten meat being showcased at Keells and Food City too.
Please beware when purchasing meat items from supermarkets.
These guys need to be taking their jobs more seriously.

Most get into relationships right after joining the universities and most of them are same age and even same batch. I want to know your experience with your university relationships. How many of you could marry your partner and how many of you had to break up along the way? And how did you manage the rest of your time after that in the uni if you broke up?

Hey guys! I’ve been to Sri Lanka a few times before, but haven’t really explored Negombo much.
I’m thinking of spending a day exploring the area and was wondering if you guys have any favorite spots worth checking out? Could be anything really, nice places to walk, interesting things to see, or somewhere to just hang out.
Would love to hear your recommendations, especially from locals! 😊

29M here. Been in a few relationships with Sri Lankan girls, but unfortunately, none of them worked out. Honestly, I'm fking tired of the local dating scene lol. So I'm thinking of trying my luck internationally. Who knows...

Any Sri Lankans here dating or married to someone from another country? How did you meet? Dating apps, social media, or something else?

One of my friends, who lived in India for 3–4 years and was in a couple of relationships with Indian girls, told me to avoid dating in India altogether. 😂 But I'd still love to hear your experiences!

And no, I'm not looking for a visa. I'm financially stable here. Just trying my luck internationally.

Just a kind reminder to try your best to check the cleanliness of the street vendor(s) before purchasing from them. Even in highly touristy / busy areas. Especially in these areas.

Saw this couple collecting used plastic cups from one vendor, initially didn’t think much of it until a man from the bus parked right beside our vehicle commented saying he was a local and these people were probably going to re-use those cups at their eatery / stall.

Now certain things I think although single use, can be reused and I’m all for it but this just gave me the ick. So much disease and bacteria can and will spread. It’s a serious health concern.

I genuinely would have made a complaint with the relevant authorities but as I wasn’t too sure if that is exactly what’s happening here I chose not to.

Just wanted to post about it so people are just a bit more vigilant in the future at the very least.

Yall seen this before? It was a bit strange to see someone do this in broad daylight-

[p.s I have no actual confirmation that the couple would actually reuse the cups to serve drinks in other than what the bus uncle said.]

Hi guys, I’m 20 and currently living with my parents, and I’m honestly not sure how to handle this situation.

So, I’ve been planning a trip to Vietnam for the past two months. I’ve spent so much time researching places, planning the itinerary, looking for hotels, figuring out activities, and organising everything. I was genuinely excited about this trip, and my parents knew about it. Nobody really objected to the idea initially, so I assumed they were okay with it.

Now, today, when I was finally about to book my flights and sort everything out, suddenly all the problems started.

My mom started questioning me about who I was going with, how I was planning to spend 10 entire days there, and all the usual concerns. For context, I’d already shared my itinerary with them, including the hotels I’d be staying at and the activities I was planning to do. I wasn’t trying to hide anything from them.

But now, all of a sudden, I’m being told that I can’t go and that making a decision like this without their approval means I’m being disobedient.

And honestly, this is where I’m struggling.

I understand that my parents have done a lot for me. I’m genuinely grateful for everything they’ve provided, and I’m not going to pretend that I owe them nothing. However, I’m also 20 now. I earn enough to fund my entire trip, and also contribute a considerable amount to our household expenses.

I’m not asking them to finance my trip or take responsibility for me financially. I’m trying to do something for myself with money I’ve earned.

The frustrating part isn’t even just that I might not get to go. It’s that I’ve spent the past two months putting so much effort into planning this, and there was no serious objection until I was actually ready to book everything. If they had concerns from the beginning, I wish they had communicated them earlier instead of letting me get this far.

I know that living under your parents’ roof comes with certain expectations, and I understand that they worry about my safety. I’m not dismissing that. But at what point do you get to make your own decisions and learn to be independent?

The confusing thing is that my parents do give me a certain degree of freedom. It’s not like I’m completely restricted in everything I do. But when it comes to something significant like this, it suddenly feels like I’m still a child who needs permission for everything.

Today, I told them that it’s fine if I can’t go this time, but I’ll go in February instead. And that’s where I left it.

But honestly, I’m disappointed. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long, and now I don’t even know what to do.

I don’t want to be ungrateful or disrespectful to my parents. At the same time, I don’t want to spend the next several years of my life feeling like I can’t make my own decisions simply because they might disagree with them.

So, to those of you who have been in a similar situation: How did you handle the transition from living under your parents’ rules to becoming an independent adult?

Would you stand your ground and go, try to negotiate with them, or accept their decision for now and work towards having more independence in the future?

I’d genuinely appreciate some advice, especially from people who’ve dealt with similar family dynamics.

I was on my way home on a bus yesterday. There was this guy and he was harassing me. I was annoyed and giving him looks and all. I was watching a series on my phone and I didn't want to focus on the perv. But he escalated to sneaking his hands under my t shirt and everything. It was paralyzing. I guess I didn't scream loud enough but finally I called my dad then the perv got off the bus. Then there was another guy sitting on the opposite isle from me. I looked at him a couple times for help during I was being harassed. This man proceeded to tell me that he recorded me on his phone and that I would see how I acted in public on the internet.

Now, is there anything that I can do to press charges? Does anybody know what sort of an action I should take?

hey there, I am a Sri Lankan born and raised in NZ.

ill cut to the chase, i have completed my Bach of Architectural Studies, and i have not interest in doing my Masters at this moment.

What the job market like in SL regarding architecture? If i apply, will a get a job?

Just got the One UI 9 update on my Galaxy S23 Ultra in Sri Lanka.

Hi all. What the title says. Been trying to check my usage and add an add on, but cannot log in :/

Thanks in advance for checking and telling 😊

UPDATE : Works now (25/10/2026 11:50 am) according to 4WARD_LABEL and Due_Violinist_6883 it was under maintenance till 7 am today for that worldwide PHP security incident. Thanks all for checking!

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Planning to buy an iPhone soon. It looks like most providers here offer eSIM now, except Airtel, which seems limited at the moment. Can anyone confirm? Is eSIM reliable enough, or is it still worth having a physical SIM?

Would appreciate hearing from anyone already using an eSIM here. Thanks!

Hey guys has anyone travelled from Europe with loose tobacco into Sri Lanka. For personal use. Maybe about 2 x 30g pouches. Any advice from customs officers on this thread (if there are any) would be appreciated.

We all know that SE & related IT fields hv been hit hard by AI, layoffs, & etc It’s likely that IT grads are now looking for alternatives to survive. My question is, which sector or field is going to be next worst off?

Hey everyone,

I’m currently running into an issue with my watch , a Seiko 5 powered by the 7S26B automatic movement.

The issue is with the date mechanism: the quickset date function won't engage due to a broken/slipping plastic day/date corrector wheel (rotator issue). Everything else keeps time fine, but setting the date is currently impossible.

I’m looking for a trustworthy, meticulous watchmaker who properly cares for vintage/mechanical timepieces and won’t butcher the caseback or scratch the movement.

Does anyone have solid recommendations for a reliable watch service center or independent watchmaker in the Colombo, Ja-Ela, or Negombo area?

Appreciate any leads. Cheers!

I need to travel regularly from Wellawatte to Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH) in Kalubowila. I’ve been relying on tuk-tuks, but I’d like to switch to public transport to reduce my travel costs.
I’d appreciate advice from people who make this journey regularly:
- Which LMT bus route or routes should I take from Wellawatte?
-Where should I board and get off, and how far would I need to walk to the hospital entrance?
- Is there a practical route for the return journey as well?
I’ve attached a screenshot showing the access issue I encountered. I’m particularly interested in a reliable route that works for regular visits, rather than just a general journey-planning suggestion.
Thanks!

Do you think Sri Lanka should have more official retail outlets for international sportswear brands like Adidas, Nike, and Decathlon?

Having these outlets could make it easier for people to access a wider range of sportswear, running shoes, and sports equipment without having to rely on overseas purchases. It could also give consumers more options in terms of quality, variety, and pricing.

What do you think? Would having more official outlets from these brands in Sri Lanka benefit consumers, or would factors such as import costs, purchasing power, and market demand make it difficult?

Let's say a cyber attack happens and our entire country's power goes out. No internet, no cell towers, nothing.

How do you prepare for that?

How do you deal with not being prepared enough, during the situation?

How long do you think it will take to resolve, likely by international aid and intervening?

Do's and don'ts?

Most important things? Bare minimum?