Frequently Asked Questions

APISRILANKAN is a digital community hub built for Sri Lankans living in the United Kingdom. It is available as a website at apisrilankan.com and as a free native app on iOS and Android. The platform brings together five key areas in one place:

News — community stories, diaspora updates, and breaking news from Sri Lanka
Events — upcoming cultural, social, and community events across the UK
Business Directory — a searchable directory of Sri Lankan-owned and Sri Lankan-focused businesses in the UK
Marketplace — a community buy-and-sell space for items and services
Gallery — photo albums from events and community moments

Whether you are newly arrived or have called the UK home for decades, APISRILANKAN is your go-to resource for staying connected.

Both give you full access to all content and features — the choice comes down to personal preference and how you like to browse.

Website — works instantly in any browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile with no installation required. Great if you are on a computer or prefer not to download apps.
App — delivers a faster, native experience optimised for your phone. It includes push notifications for breaking news and events, a smoother gallery browsing experience, and a cleaner mobile layout. Available free on the App Store and Google Play.

We recommend the app if you want to stay up to date without having to check the website regularly.

Yes — APISRILANKAN is completely free for all readers and community members. The website requires no registration to browse, and the app is free to download with no in-app purchases. There are no subscriptions, no premium tiers, and no hidden charges. The platform is funded by the community it serves, with optional promotional opportunities available for businesses and event organisers who wish to increase their visibility.

Website: Works on all modern browsers including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge — on desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile. We recommend keeping your browser up to date for the best experience.

App:

iOS — iPhone and iPad running iOS 14 or later
Android — devices running Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later

If you are on an older device that cannot run the app, the mobile website is a fully capable alternative.

Yes — dark mode is supported on both platforms. On the website, the theme automatically matches your device or browser system preference. You can also switch manually at any time using the theme toggle in the navigation bar — your preference is saved for future visits. On the app, dark mode follows your device's system-wide setting (iOS Appearance / Android Display settings) and can also be overridden within the app's own settings menu.

Push notifications are available exclusively through the APISRILANKAN app. Here is how to set them up:

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play
When prompted, tap Allow to enable notifications
If you missed the prompt, go to your device's Settings → Notifications → APISRILANKAN and turn them on

You will receive notifications for breaking news and major community updates. The website does not currently support push notifications.

Our editorial focus is on news that matters to the Sri Lankan community in the UK. This includes:

UK community news — local achievements, fundraising, cultural milestones, and community voices
Sri Lanka news — political, economic, and social developments back home
Diaspora stories — profiles of Sri Lankans making an impact in the UK and beyond
Cultural & religious — Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Vesak, Christmas, and other community celebrations
Press releases — official announcements from community organisations, charities, and businesses

We do not publish opinion pieces, unverified rumours, or content unrelated to our community.

Yes — use our News Submission Tool to submit your story, press release, or announcement. The tool walks you through each step: entering your headline and article body, adding images, and selecting a category. Once submitted, our editorial team will review your content and contact you if anything needs clarifying. We aim to publish approved stories within 24–48 hours.

For the best chance of publication, make sure your submission is factually accurate, relevant to the Sri Lankan community in the UK, and includes at least one high-quality image.

Yes — all published news articles are fully public. You can read, browse by category, search by keyword, and share articles without registering or logging in, both on the website and in the app. No paywalls, no article limits.

Use our Event Submission Tool — a step-by-step wizard that guides you through the full submission process. You will be asked to provide:

Event name and a short description
Date, start time, and end time
Venue name and full address
Ticket or entry information (free, ticketed, or invitation only)
A flyer or banner image (we recommend at least 800×600px)
Organiser contact details for enquiries

Once submitted, our team reviews your event and publishes it within 24–48 hours. You will receive a confirmation once it is live.

Community events, charity fundraisers, cultural celebrations, and religious gatherings are listed free of charge. Commercial or large-scale ticketed events may be subject to a small promotional fee to cover featured placement and wider promotion across the website and app. Contact us before submitting if you are unsure which category your event falls into.

Yes. If you need to update the date, venue, description, or flyer — or if your event has been cancelled — use our contact form and include your event name along with the specific changes required. We aim to update or remove events within a few hours of your request. Please submit changes as early as possible so attendees have time to be informed.

Use our Business Listing Tool — a guided wizard that takes you through each step of the submission process. You will need to provide:

Business name and a short description of what you offer
Category (e.g. Restaurant, Solicitor, Grocery)
Address and service area
Phone number and, if applicable, your website
Opening hours
A logo and/or photos of your business

Once submitted, our team reviews your listing and publishes it within 1–2 business days. A complete listing with a good logo and clear description will attract far more enquiries than a basic one — take your time filling it in.

Any Sri Lankan-owned or Sri Lankan-focused business operating in the UK is welcome. Our directory covers a wide range of categories, including:

Restaurants, takeaways, and catering
Grocery shops, importers, and Sri Lankan food suppliers
Professional services — solicitors, accountants, mortgage advisers, doctors, and dentists
Beauty salons, spas, and fashion retailers
Tutoring, music schools, and educational services
Construction, plumbing, electrical, and home services
Travel agents and tour operators
Community organisations, temples, and cultural societies

If you are unsure whether your business qualifies, get in touch and we will be happy to advise.

Basic listings are completely free and include your business name, contact details, address, category, description, and photos. There is no time limit — your listing stays live indefinitely as long as your business is active.

Featured or promoted placements are available for businesses that want additional visibility. These appear prominently at the top of relevant category and search results, and may be highlighted on the homepage or in the app. Get in touch for current promotional pricing.

The marketplace is open to community members buying and selling a wide range of items and services, including:

Traditional clothing — sarees, kurtas, lehengas, and occasion wear
Jewellery and accessories
Electronics, phones, and household appliances
Furniture and home décor
Vehicles — cars, motorbikes, and bicycles
Books, instruments, and hobby items
Services — tutoring, catering, photography, handyman work

All listings must comply with UK law. We do not permit listings for counterfeit goods, prohibited items, or anything that violates our community guidelines. Listings are reviewed before going live, and we reserve the right to remove any content that is inappropriate or misleading.

Use our Marketplace Listing Tool to post your item or service. The wizard will ask you for:

A clear title and detailed description
Category and condition (new, used, or service)
Your asking price, or "Make an offer" if flexible
Photos — up to several images to help buyers see what you are selling
Your preferred contact method (phone, WhatsApp, or message via the platform)
Location — so buyers know roughly where collection or meeting would take place

Once submitted, your listing is reviewed by our team and published within 24 hours. Listings with multiple clear photos and a detailed description receive significantly more enquiries.

No — APISRILANKAN is a listing and discovery platform only. All payment and delivery arrangements are agreed directly between the buyer and seller. We strongly encourage the following for your safety:

Meet in a busy public place for in-person transactions
Use bank transfer rather than cash for large purchases
Never pay in advance without verifying the item in person
Be cautious of buyers or sellers who will not meet locally or who ask for unusual payment methods

If you believe a listing is fraudulent or a user has behaved suspiciously, please report it to us immediately and we will investigate.

Photos are curated and uploaded by the APISRILANKAN team, typically following community events, cultural festivals, and occasions we attend or are invited to cover. Albums are organised by event name and date so they are easy to find and share.

If you would like APISRILANKAN to photograph your event, or if you have a set of photos from a community gathering that you would like us to host as a gallery album, get in touch with your event details and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Downloads are available on albums where the event organiser or photographer has enabled this option. To download a photo:

Open any album and click on a photo to open the full lightbox view
Look for the Download button in the lightbox panel
Click it — on desktop your browser will save the full-resolution image automatically; on mobile it will save to your camera roll or downloads folder

If an album does not have downloads enabled, contact us and we can assist. Photos are provided for personal and non-commercial use only.

Yes — you have the right to request removal of any photo in which you appear. Use our contact form and include:

A direct link to the photo or album
A brief explanation of your reason for requesting removal

We will process all such requests promptly in line with our obligations under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. In most cases, requests are actioned within 48 hours.

No — the vast majority of APISRILANKAN is fully public and requires no account whatsoever:

Reading all news articles
Browsing and viewing events
Searching the business directory
Viewing marketplace listings
Browsing photo gallery albums

An account is required only if you want to submit or manage your own listings — such as news stories, events, business directory entries, or marketplace items — or to access your personal submission dashboard. Creating an account is free and takes less than a minute.

We take your privacy seriously and collect only the minimum data necessary to operate the platform. Specifically:

Account information (name, email) is used solely to manage your submissions and communicate with you about them
Contact form enquiries are stored securely and used only to respond to you
Usage data (anonymised analytics) helps us understand how the platform is used so we can improve it

We never sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes. For full details, please read our Privacy Policy.

You have the right to request deletion of your personal data at any time under UK GDPR. To do so:

Submit a request via our contact form
In your message, include the subject "Data Deletion Request" and the name or email address associated with your account

We will confirm receipt of your request and action it within 30 days. Deletion will include your account, any personal details you submitted, and any content you wish to have removed. Note that some data may be retained for a limited period where required by law (e.g. financial records).

App & Website

News

Events

Business Directory

Marketplace

Photo Gallery

Account & Privacy

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