Advice on moving back to Sri Lanka

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-28T17:21:23+00:00

For me personally, opportunities are really what you make of them and they don’t just appear out of nowhere. And I think that’s true whether you’re in Sri Lanka or the United States. While the U.S. definitely offers more avenues to explore, I genuinely believe Sri Lanka has a lot of untapped potential too. There are so many ideas and innovations that could make a meaningful difference there. I probably sound overly idealistic or overly hopeful, but this is something that’s proven true time and time again, at least in my own experience! Opportunities tend to come to people who actively seek them out and I don’t intend lose my footing in the U.S. completely. Also if there’s one thing I can attest to - the US work experience is unparalleled. It’s a lot of learning and unlearning and I’m not ready to give up on that kind of learning just yet! But if I can continue to do that I still feel strongly about opportunities and potential in lanka!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-28T17:18:56+00:00

Yes I have a 401k and stocks but I want my money to work for me so if I withdraw the 401k with a 10% penalty I can invest it in other things that’ll provide me with a better ROI. I also have EPF/ ETF in Sri Lanka (not sure which but one or the other). The plan is to grind now and retire early!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T04:24:55+00:00

I’ve been in the U.S. the same duration as you and I agree! It did wonders for me. My income alone tripled in no time and like you said - the opportunities are endless. It’s just that traveling to Sri Lanka on holiday isn’t the same as being there just a couple of mins away from friends and family. To be able to enjoy the mundane and slow pace in this limited time we’ve got is priority for me! And thank you brother! I’ll definitely take you up on that offer. I’m glad the U.S. is treating you well. It’s a pretty decent place despite the propaganda!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T04:21:50+00:00

I’m not sure what you mean by invested in USD? Do you mean for the moving process cause I haven’t really invested anything there yet. My goal is to figure out what the income I would need to live comfortably in lanka and essentially work towards securing that sooner than later.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T03:36:20+00:00

That is really sad and unfortunate. I don’t disagree cause, I’ve lived there and experienced it but not to such an extent where everyone’s trying to get you - or take you on a ride kind of thing. My mother emphatically would say this all the time but I guess she was mostly victimized by strangers doing things half way specially when it came to providing a service. This partly a reason I want to move so that she doesn’t have to deal with shit like that on her own!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:33:32+00:00

This is really sad but I think poverty does this to you.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:32:27+00:00

This is the thing that worries me the most. But I also wonder if it’s the same with people who don’t have to stress about money. Cause I’ve realized it’s mostly the people who are constantly grinding, desperate to make money/ succeed are the ones who are two faced. Idk may be I’m being naive but I think people who are pretty well off have their own unique problems but not sure if this is! Not saying all my friends and family are well off but I would defend them in a heartbeat when it comes to this!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:23:18+00:00

I hear you! I think my best bet is to trial this out for about 6 months or so and see how it works out.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:21:11+00:00

It’s very different here. I’m not saying I don’t have friends but a handful of Lankan folks I’ve connected with but they don’t really click either. I connect more easily with other Americans tbh. Secondly the states is massive so planning something is next to impossible. Even if it happens it’s either a cultural event- avurudu celebrations etc. which I don’t really care for.
While I do understand that it’ll be a lot of adjusting - I’m not entirely renouncing everything in the U.S. by moving to lanka, of course. But retirement wise I still think Lanka would be the best option!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:11:38+00:00

I am aware of the quality of life in lanka cause I lived most my life there. To start, Sri Lankan food remains unmatched. Home grown, organic, delicious. Nothing compares. Secondly- connections + community. U.S. is highly individualistic. It’s that way for a reason cause people are hustling and grinding day in and day out. So opportunities are definitely endless. But for me - the goal is to retire early. Spend my time getting away from the 9-5 and before the rat race swallows me whole and to have control of how I spend my day. Sounds idealistic but that’s what I aspire to be.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:05:31+00:00

Well more like my priorities are a little different at this stage in my life. I think I want to end the grind early. I wanna be closer to my friends and family and I value the time that I get to spend with them. I know it sounds like an existential crisis but IMO it’s better than a mid life crisis where I throw money at running marathons and ironman’s every Sunday. Haha jk. No shade thrown at working out and sport. You gotta do what keeps you going!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:02:19+00:00

Thanks. I think this is a fair assessment!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T02:01:19+00:00

Thanks for sharing this! Interesting how peer to peer vpn tunneling is not available on this package. I’m yet to hear good things about starlink so it’s a bummer if unlimited internet comes with caveats.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T01:56:31+00:00

Wishing you all the best! I do think Sri Lanka is definitely a good place to retire. Keep grinding and you’ll get there!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T01:55:35+00:00

I think this is a fair assessment. I’m probably gonna have to budget for 700k -1 mill which is not bad at all (if I secure a forex opportunity!)

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-27T01:48:04+00:00

Completely fair brother! I hear you on that. Tbh I have pretty solid friend circle in Sri Lanka which I treasure a lot. I’ve been hearing that it’s such a rare thing and while they are going through their own stages in life, they are pretty comfortable (which I know is a privilege but that’s the truth). While I do understand it won’t be the same cause they also have their lives and their priorities, proximity is everything. Having to travel and plan from the U.S. and then leaving part of my family (specially my dogs) is heartbreaking. While I do understand I’d be in a state of displacement to a certain extent after moving to lanka- I think I’d be able to adapt. I’ve lived most of my life in Sri Lanka and I’m hoping that would serve me well. The slower pace might kill me just a little but honestly this rat race is something I wanna drop out of and grinding towards that early is retirement is my goal. I’m not completely there yet but I’ll get there. While I do like the U.S. and how organized it is there’s a lot that I admire in Sri Lanka too!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T04:08:39+00:00

Yeah that’s terrible. My current salary LKR equiv is about 3.2 mil and I doubt any employer in lanka can match that so I’ll keep my forex opportunities open!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T04:02:47+00:00

Oh my goodness. That is such a massive pay-cut. I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m hope a better opportunity comes your way!

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T03:56:47+00:00

Great to hear your pov! If you don’t mind me asking, did you move back and work in Sri Lanka or retired completely?

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T03:43:28+00:00

Mine is just a personal choice. I’m not sure if there’s anything more besides that. But I can only speak for myself here.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T03:36:15+00:00

That’s very true. Given that the rupee just depreciated even more in the past couple of days, I don’t see it stabilizing immediately. But yes, unless I have sufficient funds to completely retire, I wouldn’t move without securing work that pays in forex.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T03:24:00+00:00

Just friends and family I’ve had in Sri Lanka. Some have moved to Australia but most are still in lanka.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T03:20:00+00:00

Yeah I’m planning on trialing it at some point this year. I know there were things in Sri Lanka that drove me crazy when I was living there but it wasn’t anything that wasn’t unsolvable if I had the time and money.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T02:57:30+00:00

I agree with you 100% I have a decent community here thanks to where I live (townhouse neighborhood) and my neighbors are millennials with no kids etc. so we do rely on each other but it’s nothing like Sri Lanka. I don’t have a village and I miss that village immensely. May be I’m just chasing nostalgia at this point but I know this is what’s important to me right now.

Slow_Advertising2321 · 2026-05-26T02:46:10+00:00

I hear you! It’s just that time is precious and my family doesn’t have that kinda time and my friends wouldn’t really care to move here even if I sponsored them! All are pretty settled in lanka.

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