Airports In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a little more than two dozen airports, but most of them are small local airports or landing strips that can only accept Light private aircraft or helicopters, as well as airports of military bases. In fact, there are only two passenger international airports:

• Sri Lanka Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo / Bandaranaike International Airport
• Mattala Rajapaksa / Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport

There is also Ratmalana International Airport in Colombo (Ratmalana International Airport), but despite the name it has not been international for a long time.

Main international airport of Sri Lanka-Bandaranaike / Bandaranaike International Airport. It is better known as Colombo airport. It is here that you will arrive on any international flight, and it does not matter whether it is direct or with a transfer. As of 2021, aircraft do not fly to any other airports in Sri Lanka.

For other Sri Lankan airports, see below on this page.

Sri Lanka airport is served by flights from all over the world, including direct flights from Moscow A/C SriLankan Airlines, according to the seasons a/C "Russia". There are no direct flights from the regions. A lot of flights with transfers, and they are cheaper than direct. So, the most favorable fares are traditionally offered by Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Gulf Air, Turkish Airlines and AirArabia. The same airlines sometimes carry out very profitable sales with departures from the regions with an additional transfer in Moscow or their base cities. Such sales need to wait, but sometimes you can get a ticket even cheaper than from Moscow.

Find and book flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka, including the best fares with transfers, you can through the search form from Aviaslaes:

ЦЕНА	ПЕРЕСАДКИ	АВИАКОМПАНИЯ	ДАТА ВЫЛЕТА	ДАТА ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЯ
Купить от 57731 ₽	2 пересадки		23.07.2026	26.07.2026
Купить от 57417 ₽	2 пересадки		31.08.2026	01.09.2026
Купить от 56408 ₽	1 пересадка		14.09.2026	05.10.2026
Купить от 54487 ₽	1 пересадка		08.10.2026	09.10.2026
Купить от 54972 ₽	1 пересадка		24.11.2026	11.12.2026
Купить от 56804 ₽	1 пересадка		15.12.2026	29.12.2026

Airport infrastructure, orientation

Sri Lanka airport is simple and convenient, it is impossible to get confused. Everything you need to wait for the flight, all the necessary infrastructure is available here:

• Disabled facilities.
• Duty-free shops.
• Currency exchange offices.
• ATMs.
• Storage rooms.
• Car rental.
• Tour. offices for booking hotels and ordering taxis.
• There are free fountains with drinking water.
• Free WiFi.

It is very convenient that upon arrival you get to the dutifrey zone, where you can buy alcohol, cigarettes, perfumes and much more, including even large household appliances. Therefore, it is not necessary to carry duty-free goods from your home airport with you half the world, it is easier to buy all this here on arrival. But keep in mind that you will pass customs after this zone, and customs restrictions also apply to goods purchased in dutifrey stores. No more than two bottles of wine and one and a half liters of spirits per adult can be imported duty-free into Sri Lanka (see Sri Lankan customs rules).

Storage rooms (Cloak room) are located at the exit from the terminal on the left. It works around the clock, the storage cost is 6 US dollars per day for a unit weighing up to 23 kilograms. Storage is charged in local currency. There are also cells for storing valuables for $ 20 / day.

In exchange offices, you can exchange dollars, euros, as well as other world currencies, for example, even the Thai Baht. There is no exchange of USD. A favorable rate only for dollars and euros. Here are the current official courses:

Market exchange rate (Sri Lankan rupee) for today (07/07/2026)

• 1000 рупия (LKR) = 230,62 rubles (RUB)
• 1 US dollar (USD) = 334,32 LKR
• 100 rubles (RUB) = 433,61 LKR
• 1 euro (EUR) = 382,42 LKR

Real currency exchange rate *

• 1 US dollar (USD) ≈ 327,63 - 333,65 LKR
• 1 euro (EUR) ≈ 374,77 - 381,66 LKR

* - The real exchange rate is calculated taking into account the fees charged by exchange offices and banks for the exchange. It can also be higher than the calculated one, but if you are offered an exchange rate lower than this, it's a reason to think about finding another place to exchange.

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* The calculator converts amounts based on official world currency exchange rates. When exchanging currency at exchange offices, the rate will differ slightly depending on the exchange office's commission.

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How to get to (from Sri Lanka airport to resorts)

Sri Lanka airport is located 35 kilometers from Colombo in the town of Katunayake (See location on the interactive map). Even closer is the resort town Negombo.

Public transport is poorly developed, there are only city buses to Colombo. You will have to get to the resorts either by taxi, or with a transfer through Colombo, Negombo, or a nearby bus station. Here are more details of all the ways:

• By plane

  From there you can fly to other cities of the country on small propeller planes. According to our information, there are only two local airlines.

  • Cinnamon Air - regular flights
  • SimplyFly (Millenium Airlines) - charter flights

• By taxi

  

  Taxi costs from $ 18 (up to Negombo) and up to $ 240 (a trip to Nats.Yala Park). The car can be ordered at the counter in the arrivals hall, where you will be offered a fixed price, but you can bargain. It is slightly more profitable to order through Uber or the local PickMe application, which even features tuk-tuks.

  Instead of a taxi, you can order a tourist transfer in advance from afar. This is an analogue of a taxi, but with an increased level of service, a meeting at the airport with a sign, and Russian-language support. You can check prices and order using the search form:

• By tuk-tuk

  

  Immediately upon leaving the airport, you can catch a local tuk-tuk that will be ready to take you anywhere. However, we do not recommend using them for long distance travel, maximum to Negombo or Colombo. The fare on them is almost two times lower than by taxi, but it is necessary to bargain for a long time. Do not be surprised if they initially ask for a price even higher than a taxi.

• By bus

  

  There is a single route No. 187 to Colombo. Large city buses run along it during the day (very often), and at night small private minibuses (once an hour). Cost from 100 rupees (0.3 USD), and in private buses they can also request payment for large luggage and an increased fare at night, but you can bargain. The real price is not more than 150 rupees.

  The stop is right from the airport exit right across the street (parking 187 buses on the map). In Colombo, arrive at the bus station in Pettah district (Av station on the map), and then go to Colombo railway station. Both bus and railway stations are within walking distance of each other. Private minibuses go only to their station in a five-minute walk from the car and railway station (private Av station on the map).

  You can also go to other cities in Sri Lanka from Avariwatta bus station (Averiwatta, aka Katunayake) (bus station on the map). You can get to it by tuk-tuk for 50-100 rupees (bargaining), or on foot 20-30 minutes (walk 2 kilometers).

  Avariwatta is a small bus station, but from it you can get to major cities, where you can change the bus and get to the desired resort. Direct buses from here go at least to Negombo, Kurunegala, Kandy, Badulla. In all these cities you can change the bus and go on.

  Avariwatta/Katunayake station has no scoreboards or timetables. Buses depart constantly, but only during the day. To find the route you need, just tell the people at the station the name where you need to go, and you will be taken to the right bus.

  See also: Buses in Sri Lanka

• By train

  

  Near the airport is the railway station Katunayaka South (station on the map) from where you can get to Colombo and Negombo. Moreover, if you are lucky with the departure of the train, you will arrive in the city even faster than by bus. But the train passes there about 1-2 times a day. You can check the schedule here - https://eservices.railway.gov.lk

  You can get from the terminal to the Railway Station Katunayaka South Station by tuk-tuk for 200 rupees (after bargaining) or on foot (walk 2 kilometers). At the station, buy a ticket for the nearest train to Colombo and wait for it. All trains here are passing and usually late. The ticket price starts from 30 rupees.

All airports in Sri Lanka

There are only two international airports in Sri Lanka, and one of them only has such a status, and does not really accept international flights. These are airports:

• Colombo Bandaranaike / Bandaranaike International Airport - the main international airport, today accepts all international flights to Sri Lanka.
• Mattala Rajapaksa / Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport - does not accept international flights from 2018

In addition to international, there are several other domestic airports on the island, which are either joint military/civilian or civilian airports in the form of a runway without a terminal (airport building).

Here are Sri Lanka's airports on a map and list