In today’s digital world, having a website is essential for any business in Sri Lanka. Whether you run a local shop in Colombo, a travel agency in Kandy, or a restaurant in Galle, a website helps you attract more customers and build credibility.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create a professional website for your Sri Lankan business—from choosing a domain name to launching your site online. We’ll also include some estimated costs and tools we use, like Namecheap for domain & hosting and the popular Astra theme for design.
🟢 Step 1: Choose a Domain Name
Your domain name is your website’s address (like yourbusiness.lk). It’s the first impression of your brand online, so choose something short, easy to remember, and relevant to your business.
✅ Tips for Choosing a Domain:
- Use your business name (e.g., LankaTours.com)
- Keep it short and simple
- Avoid numbers or hyphens
- Use a .com, .lk, or .org domain for better trust
💸 Cost of Domain Name:
- Namecheap.com offers domain names starting at around $10–$15/year
- A .lk domain can cost between LKR 3,000 – 5,000/year, registered via LK Domain Registry
🟢 Step 2: Purchase Web Hosting
Web hosting is where your website files are stored and made available online. If your domain is your address, your hosting is the land your site is built on.
We recommend Namecheap Hosting for its affordable pricing, good performance, and free SSL (important for security).
💸 Cost of Hosting:
- Shared hosting on Namecheap starts at just $1.98/month
- For small to medium Sri Lankan businesses, a basic plan is usually enough
🟢 Step 3: Install WordPress
WordPress is the world’s most popular website-building platform. It’s free, flexible, and easy to use—even if you have zero coding experience.
Most hosting providers (including Namecheap) allow 1-click WordPress installation, so you can get started in just minutes.
🟢 Step 4: Choose a Theme (We Use Astra)
Once WordPress is installed, it’s time to choose a theme that defines your site’s look and feel. We use the Astra Theme, which is one of the fastest and most customizable themes out there.
✅ Why We Love Astra:
- Lightning-fast load speed (great for SEO)
- Mobile-friendly and responsive
- Works well with page builders like Elementor
- Plenty of starter templates for businesses
The Astra theme has a free version, and a Pro version starting at $49/year, which includes extra features and customization.
🟢 Step 5: Design & Develop Your Website
This is the fun part—building your actual pages like:
- Home Page – Eye-catching and clear about what your business offers
- About Page – Tell your story and build trust
- Services Page – Detail your products or services
- Contact Page – Include phone number, email, contact form, and map
We recommend using a page builder like Elementor (free & easy to use) for drag-and-drop designing. You can create professional-looking layouts without touching a single line of code.
✅ Good Web Design Tips:
- Use clear fonts and colors that match your brand
- Add high-quality images or videos
- Make sure your website is mobile-friendly
- Add call-to-action buttons like “Call Now,” “Book a Service,” or “Get a Quote”
🟢 Step 6: Add Important Features
A business website in Sri Lanka should have features like:
- ✅ Google Maps integration for directions
- ✅ Contact Form for inquiries
- ✅ WhatsApp Chat button
- ✅ Testimonials from happy customers
- ✅ Live Chat (optional, but useful for support)
🟢 Step 7: Optimize for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Once your site is live, you need to make sure people can find it on Google. SEO helps your website appear in search results when someone types in keywords like “Web Design Sri Lanka” or “Best travel agent in Colombo.”
✅ SEO Tips:
- Use keywords in your titles, descriptions, and headings
- Add alt text to all images
- Create a blog section (just like this post!)
- Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO
- Make sure your site loads fast and is mobile-friendly
🟢 Step 8: Launch Your Website!
Once everything is ready, it’s time to go live. Double-check your content, links, and mobile responsiveness. Submit your site to Google Search Console to get indexed faster.
You now have a live, professional website for your Sri Lankan business!
💰 Total Estimated Cost (in USD and LKR)
| Item | Cost (USD) | Cost (LKR approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Name (.com) | $10–15/year | LKR 3,000–5,000 |
| Web Hosting | $24–30/year | LKR 7,000–10,000 |
| Astra Pro (optional) | $49/year | LKR 15,000 |
| Elementor Pro (optional) | $59/year | LKR 18,000 |
| Developer Cost | LKR 25,000 |
💡 Total basic cost: Around Rs 35 000 for a great-looking, fast business website.
💼 Need Help? We Can Build It for You!
If you’re too busy or just want a professional to handle everything, we’re here to help. Our Sri Lanka-based web design company specializes in:
- Mobile-friendly, fast-loading websites
- SEO optimization
- WordPress and Astra customization
- Local and international business websites
✅ Contact webgeniz today for a free consultation and let’s grow your business online!
