Vertical living: transnational urbanisation and diasporic returns to Wellawatte/Colombo, Sri Lanka

The end of the violent conflict in 2009 and subsequent political changes in Sri Lanka post-2015 has opened a window for the return of the Tamil diaspora. The journey that began with the exodus of the Tamils from the North to Colombo, particularly Wellawatte, continued for those who fled the Island while others opted to stay back. The returning Tamil diaspora find Wellawatte as a place of arrival, transition and resettlement. This article looks at how the returning Tamil diaspora become embedded in Wellawatte by investing in condominium units and thereby becoming involved in transforming neighbourhoods. Empirical data from 32 qualitative interviews provide insight into social challenges and transitions that are part of the return migration process, and how a neighbourhood becomes a place of contested co-living as a result of different expectations, visions and aspirations.