Expat life: communities, services and the experience of moving to the island.
The Lives of Remarkable People column features Kristina, a digital nomad who visited the island, was disappointed, and is now traveling through Latin America with her husband and cat.
Open sourceAeroflot announced the resumption of direct flights to Colombo from October — three times a week on a Boeing 777, bookings are already open.
Open sourceSaturday morning's Legal Breakfast at the south coast's best Italian restaurant offers free attendance for Ostrov subscribers looking to discuss legal questions over a meal.
Open sourceAccording to ATOR, Sri Lanka ranked in the second top-ten of destinations for Russian tourists from May to September 2025 with moderate growth, while Vietnam surged 950%.
Open sourceAnnouncement of the English Breakfast on September 11, 2025 at 09:00 at Barista Galle Diner, lasting one and a half hours.
Open sourceThe story of a couple with six children who founded the popular Maruška café in Hikkaduwa and the LankaFood delivery service; they are now travelling across Asia by motorbike.
Open sourceThe author shares how for several months they have been driving an hour each week to attend an English Breakfast meetup where the only rule is speaking English, and how they love the expat sense of community.
Open sourceAnnouncement of a basketball meetup in Galle on September 10, 2025 at 19:00 at Galle Volleyball House, lasting one hour.
Open sourceA joint networking event by the tourism ministries of Sri Lanka and Russia took place in St. Petersburg, where the Big Travel team presented tours, yacht rentals, and transfers.
Open sourceIn January–June 2025, around 112,000 Russians visited Sri Lanka — down 1.6% year-on-year — while Russian tourist flows to South Korea grew 20.8%.
Open sourceAnnouncement of the next English Breakfast on August 21, 2025 at 09:00 at Barista Galle Diner, lasting one and a half hours.
Open sourceThe editors invite Telegram channel creators covering Sri Lanka to share their links in the comments.
Open sourceDasha, who is leaving the island, is selling around 90 Russian books with a bookshelf for $300 and is looking for a Russian-speaking community willing to take the entire collection.
Open sourceThe author notes with interest the increasingly active activities of the Russian House in Colombo.
Open sourceThe weekly English Breakfast meetup — coffee, croissants, and conversation in English with fellow islanders — will take place at the usual time and location.
Open sourceThe author recounts the start of a long-awaited trip to northern Sri Lanka: a tuk-tuk to Galle bus station, a crazy bus, a Russian grammar lesson with the driver, and a three-dollar breakfast.
Open sourceForbes highlights Sri Lanka as a sustainable and less overcrowded alternative to Bali, offering rich nature and culture with far fewer tourists.
Open sourceReaders are invited to guess which of five movement heat maps belongs to tourists from India, Russia, the UK, Germany, and China.
Open sourceAlexey Zergut, founder of TalkMuch school, explains the English Breakfast concept: a conversation club without error correction, open to all language levels.
Open sourceThe Russian House in Colombo hosted its birthday celebration 'Layers of Russian Elegance' featuring ballet and an exclusive fashion show that impressed Sri Lanka's Minister of Culture.
Open sourceAn invitation to the weekly English Breakfast — a free conversation club open to all English proficiency levels.
Open sourceAccording to ATOR data for Q1 2025, 93,568 Russians visited Sri Lanka, placing it 7th among foreign destinations.
Open sourceSri Lankans participated in a flash mob dedicated to Russia Day, organized by the Russian House in Colombo.
Open sourceAlex Krauze explains he organized the boat party for Sri Lanka lovers; he has wintered on the island for 5 years and regularly hosts events.
Open sourceAn unofficial boat party for Sri Lanka enthusiasts took place in St. Petersburg, organized by Alex Krauze.
Open sourceOn June 1, a branch of the Russian House ballet school opened at Holy Cross College in Gampaha, where 100 girls aged 3 to 18 will study classical ballet.
Open sourceThe channel asks subscribers what they usually bring home from Sri Lanka as souvenirs.
Open sourceA subscriber asks expats under 29 to complete a survey for a Sri Lankan woman's master's thesis about living abroad.
Open sourceThe Immortal Regiment march took place in Colombo, led by the Russian ambassador, with support from Sri Lankan military and other diplomats.
Open sourceThe author shares personal experience visiting the Kicks billiard club in Ahangama, founded by Russian-speaking entrepreneurs Oleg and Max.
Open sourceA group of foreign tourists in Weligama organised a voluntary beach cleanup and received wide coverage in the local press.
Open sourceIn Dewata over 25 people filled a garbage truck with plastic, while in Weligama the cleanup coincided with the city's own effort and surprised officials with foreigners' participation.
Open sourceMeetup points and times published for the April 5 cleanup: Closenberg beach (Dewata), KAIYO restaurant (Weligama), and the riverside with monitors (Hikkaduwa).
Open sourceMore than 20 Russian-speaking islanders agreed to hold a community cleanup on April 5 in Weligama, Dewata and Hikkaduwa with support from local businesses.
Open sourceA Daily Mirror article on overtourism and the large Israeli tourist presence in Sri Lanka — the channel provides a translation for Russian-speaking readers.
Open sourceOlga Kot has lived on the Island with her family for two years: a former art director and business owner in Russia, she now teaches drawing to children and adults.
Open sourceThe author describes day seven in Colombo: breakfast, a meeting with participants in a business legalization pilot program, and plans for a trip to Tangalle.
Open sourceThree months after the author's departure, the situation for foreign businesses deteriorated sharply: mass inspections, deportations, snitching, and seizures forced many to leave the Island.
Open sourceFollowing the 2024 'White Party' scandal, Sri Lankan authorities effectively stopped issuing resident visas to Russians and intensified inspections of Russian-founded businesses.
Open sourceAn invitation to weekly international volleyball games in Galle every Monday and Friday from 4 to 6 PM.
Open sourceRepresentatives of the Russian-speaking business community in Sri Lanka report that resident visas have effectively stopped being issued and inspections of Russian-owned businesses are intensifying.
Open sourceVideo footage captures local hostility toward Russians, Ukrainians, and Israelis conducting business on tourist visas in Sri Lanka.
Open sourceTomorrow in Weligama there will be a free English speaking club meeting on the topic of building good habits.
Open sourceOn Sunday, Shenanigans Irish pub in Weligama will host a beer and karaoke night with a contest for the loudest group.
Open sourceFrom December 16, the KIDSUP children's camp opens for children aged 6 and over with a program, meals, and transfer from Galle.
Open sourceThe "elephants" team invites new island residents to meet over burgers and beer at Shenanigans pub in Weligama.
Open sourceIn the first four days of December, Russia became the largest source of tourists in Sri Lanka with 4,418 arrivals, driven by resumed charter flights.
Open sourceThe author returned to the island and is launching a new season of free English speaking club meetings in Weligama.
Open sourceChannel author Mumi Anna is looking for musicians in Sri Lanka — details available in stories and via a linked interview.
Open sourceOstrov channel subscribers watch a video mentioning a 'House of Russian Cuisine' and a creative community on the island.
Open sourceAndrei Morozov launched a challenge in his channel to post archival photos and videos starting from his arrival in Sri Lanka in November 2019.
Open sourceA DJ school from Surgut is running a contest together with the Ostrov channel, having worked in Sri Lanka for two years and covering cities across Russia and other countries.
Open sourceA children's centre for Russian-speaking expats opened in Galle, offering kindergarten, after-school classes, a pool, and Russian- and English-speaking teachers.
Open sourceTalkMuch school is launching an English conversation marathon with special terms for Ostrov channel subscribers.
Open sourceAZUR air launches charter flights from Sochi to Sri Lanka on Boeing 767-300 every 10 days; an 11-night tour for two starts from 151,600 rubles.
Open sourceOn October 26, a Halloween party with games, contests, and treats will be held at the kindergarten for 1,000 rupees per child.
Open sourceThe male part of the Colombo expat community invites others to a morning meetup at Nikki cafe on September 27 at 10:30.
Open sourceThe Russian Embassy issued recommendations for Russian citizens living abroad.
Open sourceSeveral island residents appeared in the Indian action film The Greatest of All Times, released on September 7.
Open sourceRussian law now requires citizens living abroad to independently throttle their YouTube access.
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NAYANOVA — Эмиграция и бизнес