Sri Lanka's McDonald's chain acquires Dinemore

Dinemore, a well-known fast-food chain in Sri Lanka, has taken steps to expand its business operations under a new concept called 'DinemoreGo' by acquiring the locations of the McDonald's restaurant chain that were previously established across the island. Following legal agreements after McDonald's officially ceased its business operations in the country in March 2024, the locations where those restaurants were situated had become deserted and were closed, but no other businesses had started there.

However, it is reported that Dinemore acquired 14 of those locations in late 2025. Several of them have already been launched under the new brand. Through this new initiative, Dinemore is preparing to introduce a new dining experience to customers, offering fast service and more affordable prices, in addition to its famous Submarine menu.

Commenting on this business change, some customers say they hope the quality of the French fries and burgers previously sold under the McDonald's brand will remain the same. However, Dinemore owners emphasize that this will not be a direct copy of the McDonald's menu, but rather a local brand with a new menu enhanced to suit local consumer preferences. Although some customers have recently criticized Dinemore's food quality on social media, the management aims to overcome these shortcomings under the new program and provide services according to international standards.

Memories associated with the McDonald's brand, such as children's toys and Happy Meals, introduced to the country in the late 90s, still resonate among consumers, leading to various discussions about whether a local brand can fill that void. McDonald's decided to withdraw from the country due to legal issues with its local representative, Abans, and business critics believe that Dinemore's acquisition of these valuable business locations will be a major turning point in Sri Lanka's fast-food sector.

Many people state that the launch of these new outlets provides more opportunities to strengthen local brands, and they also point out that instead of relying solely on foreign brands, local establishments like Dinemore should be supported to elevate them to world standards. Dinemore is currently preparing to implement this service in several major cities across Sri Lanka in the future, combining McDonald's fast service delivery methods with Dinemore's unique local flavors through the new 'DinemoreGo' restaurants.

Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the world-renowned McDonald's company is considering restarting its business in Sri Lanka. If they return, they will have to establish their outlets in different locations.