An Eye-Opener on Deceptive Property Ads in Sri Lanka

The Shiny Apartment Dream That Wasn’t

An Eye-Opener on Deceptive Property Ads in Sri Lanka

These days, social media feeds are flooded with tempting property advertisements—sleek apartment buildings, attractive payment plans, and prices that seem almost too good to be true. Sadly, in many cases, they are too good to be true.

Recently, I came across one such ad from a well-known property developer. Out of curiosity, I decided to dig deeper. What I uncovered was a masterclass in misleading marketing.

The Ad That Hooked Me

Here’s the gist of what the ad promised (numbers adjusted slightly to avoid identifying the specific company, but very close to reality):

  • Price just above Rs. 30 million.
  • No down payment.
  • No bulk payment.
  • No extra fees.
  • Just “a little over Rs. 100,000” per month.

Sounds like a dream deal, right?

The Reality Check

The moment I called, the picture began to crumble:

1.    Evasive answers: When I asked how many bedrooms were included, the salesperson danced around the question, clearly trying to distract me.

2.    Price inflation: That “just above Rs. 30 million” figure quickly jumped to nearly Rs. 40 million.

3.    No cash option: They refused to accept a cash purchase. Instead, they insisted I apply for a bank loan.

4.    Rising installments: That “a little over Rs. 100,000” monthly payment suddenly came with a catch—an extra Rs. 20,000 every quarter.

By the end of the conversation, the “dream deal” looked more like a carefully crafted trap to lure in unsuspecting buyers.

Why This Matters

Whether this qualifies legally as a scam is up for debate, but there’s no denying the ad was highly deceptive. These tactics prey on people’s aspirations, especially those desperately trying to secure a home in a challenging economy.

The ad has already been reported to the social media platform hosting it. But the bigger question is: Where is Sri Lanka’s Fair Trade Commission in all this? If such misleading advertising is happening openly, shouldn’t it be investigated and stopped?

What You Can Do

  • Question everything. If an offer sounds too good to be true, dig deeper.
  • Get it in writing. Always ask for a detailed breakdown before committing.
  • Report misleading ads. Social media platforms and consumer protection authorities can take action—but only if they know about it.

Sri Lankans deserve transparency, not traps disguised as opportunities. 

If we stay informed and speak up, we can make it harder for these schemes to succeed.



 


Location: Makumbura, Pannipitiya, Sri Lanka

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