Foreigners in Galle
Although Galle is in many ways a typical Sri Lankan provincial district, centred around the small city of Galle, it is more diverse, and has more to offer than any other.
The demographics of Galle are usually summarised by the majority Sinhalese population and the sizable Muslim minority. It is also influenced by large numbers of non-Sri Lankans, and is unusual in having seen recent immigration.
The British community in Galle is fairly large: at least hundreds of people, possibly possibly thousands if once counts those outside the city and who do not live there permanently. This could make them the third or fourth largest ethnic group in Galle. There are certainly enough to have significantly affected property prices in the aras they favour (a source of some resentment).
The increase in property prices has caused some resentment. This lead to the re-imposition of the tax on foreign purchases of property. Behaviour flagrantly out of line with local mores is also deeply disliked.
Who lives in Galle
The foreign presence largely falls into three groups.
- Those living in Galle long term.
- Expats who are working in Galle temporarily. Unlike in Colombo, this group is small.
- Owners of holiday homes and other property in Galle, who visit regularly but live elsewhere.
Galle is very different from Colombo in that the second group is very small and in that the majority of the first group who have no family connection with Sri Lanka: they just like living in Galle. The first and third groups are more significant than anywhere else in Sri Lanka, are very visible and have had a significant influence on Galle.
Integration with Sri Lankan communities
Those settled in Galle includes many people married to Sri Lankans. They are often well integrated with the local community.
It is easy to live in Galle with virtually no social contact with social contact with Sri Lankans, and many people do. Some people do this because they find it difficult to make the cultural adjustments needed to do otherwise. Others prefer to live that way: what that choice says about them is another matter.
This is certainly something that British people who complain of immigrant communities not integrating should ponder (especially given that those who integrate least socially are also those who show the least respect for local customs and mores).