Here’s a concise guide to luxury lifestyle apartments in Colombo — the major developments, locations, typical pricing, buying/renting rules for foreigners, and practical tips.

Top luxury apartment developments (short descriptions + sources)

• Cinnamon Life — Landmark mixed‑use project (Residences and Suites towers) in central Colombo with hotel, mall, cinema and full concierge/amenity offering. Typical unit mix includes 2–4 bedroom apartments; quoted developer prices for 2‑bed and 3‑/4‑bed examples appear on the project site. (cinnamonlifeapartments.com)
• One Galle Face (The Residences at One Galle Face) — Oceanfront, mixed‑use towers beside Galle Face Green with high‑rise residences, hotel and retail; positioned as one of Colombo’s premier addresses. (en.Wikipedia.org)
• Sapphire Residences — “Sky Mansions” high‑end tower in a prime oceanfront location (large 2–5 bedroom sky‑mansion apartments and penthouses); developer marketing shows units starting in the multi‑million USD range. (sapphireresidences.lk)
• 447 Luna Tower — High‑rise luxury residential tower in Union Place with rooftop infinity pool and premium amenities (44 storeys; luxury apartment mix). (en.Wikipedia.org)
• Other premium/boutique projects — Several boutique luxury towers and branded residences in Colombo 3 (Colpetty/Marine Drive), Colombo 5 (Havelock/Jawatta) and Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens) — local developers and property portals list recent high‑end launches and boutique “privé” projects. (CeylonProperty.lk)

Where to look (neighbourhoods and what they offer)

• Colombo 1 / Galle Face / Fort (oceanfront): iconic ocean views, major mixed‑use towers (One Galle Face). Good for prestige, hotel/retail access. (en.Wikipedia.org)
• Colombo 2–3 (Colpetty, Kollupitiya, Marine Drive): central, upscale apartment stock, close to restaurants, embassies and nightlife. (falconparis.com)
• Colombo 4–5 (Bambalapitiya, Havelock, Jawatta): quieter residential pockets with boutique luxury developments and convenient access to schools & hospitals. (CeylonProperty.lk)
• Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens): leafy, prestigious address with classic villas and some boutique apartments.

Typical price ranges (illustrative)

• Branded landmark towers (Cinnamon Life, One Galle Face, Sapphire): prices are commonly mid‑hundreds of thousands USD for 2‑bed units up to multi‑million USD for large penthouses; Sapphire markets some units starting ~USD 1.4M and Cinnamon Life lists sample 2‑bed and 3‑/4‑bed pricing on its site. Exact prices depend on tower, floor, view and fit‑out. (cinnamonlifeapartments.com)
• Boutique luxury towers and newly launched projects: wide range from upper‑five‑figures to several hundred thousand USD for 1–3 bed units depending on location and finish. (Check current listings for exact pricing.)

Foreign buyers — ownership rules & practical legal points

• Condominiums/apartments: foreigners are generally permitted to buy apartment units (especially in developments registered under the Apartment Ownership law). Many sources note restrictions apply to ground‑floor/land ownership and some regulatory conditions (funds should be remitted inwardly). (colomborealtors.lk)
• Land / freehold: foreigners cannot generally acquire freehold land directly; long‑term leases (up to 99 years) are commonly used. Leasing and company structures are typical alternatives. (lankaland.com)
• Money flows & remittance: purchases by foreigners usually must be paid via an inward foreign remittance (Securities Investment Account/appropriate bank channel) to ensure legality and repatriation. (tpp.lk)
• Taxes & transaction costs: developers/portals report that VAT may apply to new apartment sales (recently reintroduced and adjusted in some periods), stamp duty and transfer taxes apply, and capital gains and other taxes can affect returns — get exact current rates from a local lawyer/accountant before transacting. (lankaproperty.info)

Practical tips when looking at luxury apartments in Colombo

• Use reputable developer projects for greater legal clarity (branded projects like Cinnamon Life, One Galle Face, Sapphire have full marketing and developer support). (cinnamonlifeapartments.com)
• Verify title & approvals: confirm the project is properly registered under relevant apartment/land laws, get the developer’s track record, and check any restrictions on foreign buyers with your lawyer. (desaram.com)
• Fund transfer and tax planning: ensure payments are made via approved inward remittances (SIA/IIA rules) and check VAT/SSCL/CGT implications on primary vs secondary market purchases. (lankaproperty.info)
• Visit show apartments and inspect finishes, service regimes, sinking fund/maintenance charges, parking rules and service level agreements. For high‑end living, concierge, security, building management system and backup power are important. (cinnamonlifeapartments.com)
• Renting vs buying: if you’re testing the market, renting in a luxury building first is common—compare net yields and occupancy levels if buying as an investment.

If you’d like I can:

• Pull current available listings (sale/rent) for any of the projects above (Cinnamon Life, One Galle Face, Sapphire, 447 Luna Tower, etc.) and show current asking prices and unit specs; or
• Prepare a short comparison (3–5 units) showing price, size, floor, view, service charges and developer — useful if you’re comparing as an investor or moving there.

Which would you prefer — current listings for sale, rental listings, or a comparison of specific developments?