Blog

UK 8 min read

Pub Culture UK

As you try to make sense of British after-work traditions, you're likely feeling frustrated by the unwritten rules and unspoken expectations that seem to govern pub culture. You've probably found yourself wondering what to order, when to arrive, and how to avoid unintentionally offending your coll...

Jan 17, 2026 8

UK 9 min read

UK vs Sri Lankan Dating

you're a Sri Lankan expat living in the UK, and you've just met someone special. As you start dating, you realize that the cultural norms and expectations are vastly different from what you're used to back home. You might find yourself wondering what's considered polite, what's a reasonable pace f...

Jan 17, 2026 12

UK 10 min read

British Workplace Etiquette

I still recall my first day at a British office, where I inadvertently addressed my superior by their first name, only to be politely corrected by a colleague. This minor faux pas could have easily been avoided had I been aware of the nuances of British workplace etiquette. As someone who has spen...

Jan 17, 2026 8

Technology 20 min read

Grok vs. Governments: How an AI Chatbot Sparked a Global Regulatory Showdown

Executive Summary In just two weeks—from early January 2026—Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot transformed from a cutting-edge government technology into the target of the most coordinated international regulatory response against any AI system to date. The crisis reveals fundamental tensions between S...

Jan 16, 2026 8

Immigration 12 min read

SAD in Sri Lanka: Tropical Mental Health Guide

Picture this: You’ve just arrived in a chilly northern city from the sun-drenched streets of Colombo, where year-round warmth once defined your days. Now, as winter’s gray skies close in, you feel an unexpected drag—not the vibrant energy you expected from cooler air, but a familiar heaviness echoi...

Jan 16, 2026 7

Immigration 12 min read

UK School System: Primary to University

If you’ve ever wondered why British students take GCSEs at 16 while their American counterparts sit for SATs, you’ve spotted one of the education system’s defining features: structure. The British school system isn’t just different—it’s deliberately designed around clear progression points, each wi...

Jan 16, 2026 7

Immigration 13 min read

NHS Guide for Sri Lankans

Did you know that by March 2025, 41% of doctors in England’s Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) hold international medical qualifications, with over 500 new Sri Lankan-trained doctors joining the NHS by 2022 alone?[5] This influx underscores a familiar brain drain from Sri Lanka’s h...

Jan 15, 2026 6

Immigration 12 min read

UK-Sri Lanka Currency Exchange Strategies

Have you ever watched £1,000 destined for your family’s Sri Lankan account shrink to just 416,000 LKR after bank fees and a lousy rate—only to see the GBP/LKR pair climb to 419 the next day, leaving you kicking yourself?[1][5] You’re not alone. Splitting time or assets between the UK and Sri Lan...

Jan 15, 2026 7

Immigration 14 min read

UK Bank Accounts for Sri Lankan Immigrants: Complete Guide

Most Sri Lankan immigrants discover too late that UK banks don’t care about your credentials back home—they care about paperwork you probably don’t have yet. You’ll face rejection letters, wasted appointments, and weeks of delays if you approach this the way most people do. The difference between a...

Jan 15, 2026 7

Immigration 12 min read

UK Pensions: Build Retirement While Supporting Family

I’ve seen countless expats in my 15 years advising on UK pensions pour every spare penny into family support back home, only to hit retirement age with a State Pension forecast barely scraping £12,000 a year—far short of the £25,000+ needed for basics, per recent GOV.UK projections.[1] You’re ju...

Jan 15, 2026 9

Immigration 13 min read

Tax-Efficient Investing for UK Sri Lankans

You’re likely overpaying taxes on your Sri Lankan assets by 20-30% right now—without even realising it—thanks to mismatched UK residency rules and the UK-Sri Lanka double taxation agreement. Picture this: You’re a UK tax resident under the Statutory Residence Test (SRT), spending over 183 days h...

Jan 15, 2026 7

Immigration 13 min read

UK House Deposit & Mortgage for Foreigners

UK lenders will happily take your money—but only if you’re willing to pay significantly more for it than British citizens do. Foreign-born residents face deposit requirements double or triple those of local buyers, interest rates that reflect “expat risk,” and a documentation process so thorough it...

Jan 15, 2026 7