for bespoke clothing, at a reasonable price from a central location Raheema's is a pretty good option.
Rainco has a big shop in Dehiwala selling everything from (expensive) patio furniture and awnings to affordable camping equipment and umbrellas.
If you're looking for cheap sunglasses, the Galle Road is perhaps the best place. Right across from Majestic City there's a stall which sells reliably cheap sunglasses (Rs. 200-500, depending on…
laptop.lk is a website, but also a series of physical branches where you can buy a range of laptops. YAMU needed a laptop for coding and we managed to find one within our specs for Rs. 53,800. Which…
As far as getting to touch, feel and buy the latest phones and tabs, the Etisalat HQ is the newest and best on the block.
Christmas is coming so here's a random gift idea - buy your loved one/child/friend a telescope.
This is somewhere my grandmother remembers buying bits and bobs from 50 years ago, I saw their sign and expected to find the place empty and derelict but amazingly it's alive and almost well.... sorta…
The Supun Arcade on Galle Road is probably Colombo's cleanest and emptiest mall. It's actually eerie because the stores are fully stocked, computers, phones and (inexplicably) Chinese vases on the first floor;…
While it's not quite as charming as Maradana's second hand strip it's much better laid out and the books seems to be curated- classics at the back, pulp and pop towards the front and a box of…
Gandhara is more a high-end decor empire than a shop. Along with its off shoots and affiliates the store occupies an entire swathe of Stratfrod Avenue. Inside the many-floored, several-roomed…
If you ever need a giant calculator, or something more ordinary like blank CDs or printer cartridges, Unik Creations in Unity Plaza is a decent place. It's not necessarily cheap - a huge calculator costs Rs.…
It pays not to overlook HoF - you often end up saving and well even if you came in looking for a pair of jeans and found only horrifying besequined specimens you might yet leave with the rs…
Its a bit of a lucky a dip but sift through the dusty collections for long enough ask the enthusiastic vendors enough questions and after 30 mins scouring you're sure to find something you like.
The K-9 is, I think, Colombo's only attempt at a comprehensive pet store. They sell a whole bunch of pet related products like cages, leashes, chew toys, and, strangely, adult diapers (?). You…
For high-end but not unaffordable Sarees check out Aashkii. There are also dresses and random bits of home-wear available in the split level premise on top of Maitland Crescent though these…
The Full Stop has the highest quality stationery in Colombo, at the highest price. If you want regular paper or a few pens and exercise books, your local stationer or someplace like Sarasavi is…
A few minutes of browsing in Melache you'll see that local labels are no longer a laughing matter. There are some really lovely pieces in this shop and they are very well priced. Original and handmade creations…
Victorias Wines is clearly a posh place to buy your booze. This isn't where we'd go for the weekly Lion run, but if you want to buy a special gift or if you've got some rupee, this is good.
What does the inside of an Internet business look like? If you visit the office of BuyOnline.lk you can see. BuyOnline is a decent looking website that sells tablets, computers, cameras, etc.
Video International is the gold (or blue) standard for DVDs in Colombo. They have a good selection of foreign films in high quality, including Blu-Ray.
The Lover is a hugely popular local shop, selling an abundance of plastic and shiny jewelled goods. Earrings, bracelets, rings, phone bling, handbags, shoes...you name it. And they have over 50 branches across…
Anusha Handicrafts, outside Kollupitiya Market by Liberty Junction, is an odd place and something of an overwhelming experience, crammed as it is from floor to ceiling with teetering piles…
The Tree of Art, an almost unnoticeable little store selling a random collection of Barefoot/Paradise Road type items - ie. incense holders, candles, boxes, brass pots, etc. It's a sweet…
