Business
Top real estate developers identified in new RIU brand heath survey
Research Intelligence Unit (RIU)
This year’s RIU survey delved deeper than brand surveys of the past by looking into multifarious factors that included brand awareness, brand perception, brand visibility, brand attributes and top of the mind recall. Home Lands, Prime Lands, Kelsey Homes, JAT, Blue Ocean, Span and Fairway were found to be the top seven most popular developers in 2021. The findings give some victories to all seven of the top players with the top two battling for gold..
During the course of 2021, the Research Intelligence Unit (RIU) conducted a large-scale survey covering many hundreds of property buyers and investors in order to identify the top developer brands in Sri Lanka and to highlight the brand dynamics thereof. The survey covered residents of Colombo, non-Colombo residents as well as the diaspora community. The findings provide a unique insight into how buyers think and how this impacts their investment decision making. From a developer perspective, the survey has identified the top seven players in the market with each of these claiming one or more victories. However, it is Home Lands and Prime Lands that are battling for the top spot.
The Home Lands Group had the highest percentage of respondents that indicated the brand as their ‘first preference’ whilst Prime Lands Group took the top spot of the overall rankings, followed by Home Lands, based on the survey results which included local and Sri Lanka diaspora investors / property buyers.
Locals and Sri Lankan diaspora
When isolating locals from the Sri Lankan diaspora, Prime Lands remains on top, followed by Home Lands. However, amongst the diaspora, Blue Ocean was ranked highest, followed by Span.
Respondents were also asked to rate (positive or negative) based on word of mouth with the developers. Here, Home Lands, with a 57% ‘positive’ result, was the only developer that had a client base with predominantly positive word of mouth.
In accordance with the survey findings, a large number of respondents stated that they had a very favorable past experience with JAT Holdings accompanied by Span Engineering and Fairway Holdings.
Top developers were also assessed in the survey in regards to brand perception: affordability, convenience, luxury, style/elegance, trust and value for money. The results highlighted the locals reckoned properties of Home Lands to be supreme in terms of luxuriousness and the diaspora acclaimed those properties to provide a better value for money.
Brand perception
The survey also revealed how respondents associated brands with the following attributes; brand, convenience, discounts, price, quality and time delivery. In regards to the ‘brand’ factor, Home Lands had the best result, while Prime Lands topped the list in terms of ‘convenience’ and ‘quality’. Blue Ocean, albeit marginally, is placed atop in regards to ‘price’, while Span is seen to provide the most ‘discounts’. Fairway tied with Span for top spot in terms of ‘timely delivery’.
The analysis shows significant differences between brand awareness and perception levels of diaspora and locals as well as residents from Colombo as against those who live outside the Colombo district. Similarly, there are differences between those who work in the private sector as compared to those in the public sector and those that use private as compared to public transport as well as differences by age groups.
The RIU survey also finds that the buyer information source landscape has changed completely in recent years. Now, social media’s influence in the real estate market dominates all other mediums and is highlighted in the survey. It was shown to provide the highest reach compared to other modes such as TV, radio, print media etc. This underlines the important function that social media plays in the current context for diverse forms of business communication.
The Research Intelligence Unit (RIU) has just completed 18 years of service in Sri Lanka with a track record of providing advisory services to most the top developers in the island and the Asia region. Headquartered in London, the RIU also have offices in the Maldives and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
For more information about the RIU and the Real Estate Market Annual Report 2021, contact info@riunit.com.
Business
SLT-MOBITEL driving Sri Lanka’s economic resilience through digital infrastructure
Corporate accolades underscore the alignment between its operational excellence and national development
In an era where national competitiveness is intrinsically tied to digital connectivity, strengthening the country’s digital backbone has become an urgent priority. Within this context, the evolving role of Sri Lanka’s leading telecommunications provider, SLT-MOBITEL, offers valuable insight into how technological infrastructure can underpin broader economic resilience.
Telecommunications and digital networks are foundational to economic transformation. By expanding high-speed broadband access, upgrading enterprise cloud capabilities, and bridging the urban-rural connectivity divide, SLT-MOBITEL helps reduce business transaction costs, streamline supply chains, and enable micro, small, and medium enterprises to reach global markets.
Recent corporate accolades further underscore this alignment between operational excellence and national development. SLT-MOBITEL’s triple triumph at the National Business Excellence Awards 2026 – winning in the Infrastructure and Utilities sector, Performance Management, and ICT Services categories – highlights its growing impact. Notably, the recognition of eChannelling’s contributions to digital healthcare reflects a broader strategic pivot toward integrated technology solutions.
“Institutional efficiency of this nature is critical for attracting foreign direct investment, as global partners increasingly assess a country’s digital maturity and systemic stability before committing capital,” noted industry observers.
Moreover, the company’s transition from a conventional telecom utility to a comprehensive digital solutions provider aligns seamlessly with Sri Lanka’s national digitalisation agenda. As the country pursues public sector modernisation, enhanced e-governance, and a competitive knowledge economy, the private sector must step up to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready networks. Investments in data centres, cybersecurity frameworks, and advanced ICT infrastructure act as strategic buffers, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s economic apparatus remains agile and resilient amid future global uncertainties.
However, industry experts caution that while these achievements are commendable, SLT-MOBITEL still has a considerable distance to cover in fully enabling a truly digital economy.
Business
Port City Colombo strengthens Gulf investment ties at Dubai diplomatic engagement
Port City Colombo (PCC) took a prominent role as Platinum Sponsor at the second edition of Sri Lanka Beyond Your Dreams, a high-level diplomatic and investment engagement hosted by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event, held on 2nd September 2026 at the Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, brought together over 400 senior UAE-based business leaders, investors, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders, alongside Sri Lanka’s most senior government representatives.
The gathering was graced by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, as Guest of Honour, and Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. A high-level Sri Lankan delegation – including the Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Investment, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, and the Director General of Commerce – underscored the government’s strong commitment to deepening economic diplomacy with the UAE.
In his keynote address, Minister Herath reaffirmed the centuries-old ties between Sri Lanka and the Arab region, emphasising the UAE’s vital role as a key economic partner. He stressed the urgency of finalising a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE, which would establish a robust framework to elevate trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Declaring Sri Lanka “open and ready for business,” he positioned Port City Colombo as the physical embodiment of this economic mission – a modern Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a dedicated legal framework and competitive incentives, offering UAE investors a natural gateway to South Asia while maintaining strong Gulf connectivity.
Business
American Premium Water strikes Gold at Dragons of Sri Lanka 2026
American Premium Water has secured four wins at Dragons of Sri Lanka Awards 2026, including three Gold Dragons and one Black Dragon, marking a significant milestone for the brand following its relaunch last year.
Part of the prestigious Dragons of Asia awards, Dragons of Sri Lanka brings the program’s regional platform to the local market, celebrating creative and effective marketing communications, with entries evaluated on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and impact. Established in 2000, Dragons of Asia is one of Asia’s premier results-driven marketing awards programs.
For American Premium Water, the achievements are particularly significant given that the company’s debut at the Dragons awards has resulted in four Dragons across four categories. In the distinction of Gold Dragons, American Premium Water was recognized across three categories including Product Launch or Re Launch, Cause, Environment or Sustainability and Creative Excellence while the Black Dragon was awarded in recognition of Small Budget.
Competing alongside leading brands and agencies in Sri Lanka, American Premium Water’s four wins demonstrate the strength and effectiveness of its recent work. Winning three Gold Dragons across three distinct categories highlights the breadth of the brand’s achievements, while the Black Dragon for Small Budget further emphasizes its ability to create meaningful impact through focused and efficient investment.
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