Bandaranaike International Airport

Bandaranaike International Airport is about 32 km (20 miles) north of central Colombo, at Katunayake. The Colombo–Katunayake Expressway (E03) links them, and the drive to Colombo Fort usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, longer at rush hour or when traffic backs up at the city end of the expressway.

Negombo is the closest town to the airport, about 10 km (6 miles) to the north. Most hotels along Negombo's beach road are a 20 to 30 minute drive away, which is why many travelers spend their first or last night there rather than in Colombo.

Yes. Bandaranaike International Airport, code CMB, is Sri Lanka's main international airport and is usually called Colombo Airport. It stands in Katunayake, so locals often call it Katunayake Airport, and it was officially named Katunayake International Airport between 1977 and 1995. It is named after former prime minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.

All international flights use one passenger terminal, Terminal 1, so there is no terminal to choose on arrival. A small separate domestic terminal serves Cinnamon Air's flights around Sri Lanka. A second international terminal is planned but has not been built, and Terminal 1 is being renovated to add capacity.

Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), applied for online at eta.gov.lk before travel. Nationals of 40 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and much of Europe, get a free tourist ETA but must still apply. An ETA can also be obtained on arrival, but the line is slower. Singapore, Maldives and Seychelles nationals are exempt.

You go through immigration first, where officers check your passport and ETA. On the way to baggage claim you pass the arrival duty-free shops. After collecting your bags, walk through customs, using the green channel if you have nothing to declare, into the arrivals hall with banks, ATMs, SIM kiosks and the taxi counter.

Immigration can take anywhere from a few minutes to about an hour, depending on how many flights land together. Lines are usually longest late in the evening and in the early morning, when many long-haul flights arrive. Having your passport, ETA approval, onward ticket and hotel address ready speeds things up.

Yes. Air-conditioned bus 187 runs via the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway to Colombo Fort, and other expressway buses go to the Makumbura Multimodal Center at Kottawa. They are the cheapest way into Colombo, but they leave from a bus stand away from the terminal, so they suit travelers with light luggage.

Yes. Both PickMe, Sri Lanka's local ride-hailing app, and Uber operate at the airport, with a signposted pickup point outside arrivals. You need mobile data to book, so buy a local SIM card from one of the kiosks in the arrivals hall or set up an eSIM before you land.

Only a limited one. Katunayake railway station near the airport has a few slow local trains a day toward Negombo and Colombo Fort, but the dedicated Airport Express train no longer runs. Most travelers use a taxi, app ride, bus or pre-booked car instead.

Yes. Dialog, SLT-Mobitel and Airtel have kiosks in the arrivals hall selling tourist SIM cards with data. Branches of several Sri Lankan banks exchange US dollars, euros and pounds at counters in the arrivals hall, and ATMs there accept most foreign cards. Keep your receipt and count your cash at the counter.

Yes. SriLankan Airlines runs the Serendib Lounge for its business class passengers and eligible frequent flyers. Paid lounges include the Executive Lounge and the Silk Route and Gold Route lounges, which have arrival as well as departure sections, so you can rest or freshen up after a long flight.

Colombo airport is on Sri Lanka Standard Time (UTC+5:30), the same offset as India. There is no daylight saving time, so the clock stays the same all year. Flight times on your ticket are always shown in local time, so check them against your hotel check-in and any onward connections.