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Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Plan your trip to Sri Lanka

Choose a city and airport first, then compare airlines and routes.

Bandaranaike International Airport uses CMB and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport uses HRI. Match tickets and onward ground connections to the actual airport for Sri Lanka travel.

Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency
Sri Lanka Rupee / LKR
Common language
CLDR territory-language data records commonly used languages including Sinhala, Tamil, English. Usage varies by region; CLDR population figures are estimates.
Time
IANA time zone Asia/Colombo (UTC+5:30, no daylight saving time); confirm local times on your itinerary

Major airports in Sri Lanka

Compare location, airlines and ground transport to choose the most convenient airport for your trip.

CMB

Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

CMB

HRI

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport

HRI

JAF

Jaffna International Airport

Jaffna

RML

Colombo Ratmalana International Airport

Colombo

TRR

China Bay Airport

Trincomalee

BTC

Batticaloa International Airport

Batticaloa

KCT

Koggala Airport

Galle

Airlines for travel in Sri Lanka

An airline’s hubs can determine whether your trip is nonstop or requires a connection.

Airlines, codes, key hubs and networks for travel in Sri Lanka
AirlineCodeKey hubsNetwork
SriLankan AirlinesULCMB / CDG / FRA / BKK / BLR / BOM / CAN / CGK / CJB / COK / DAC / DELExplore SriLankan Airlines baggage guidance and check the e-ticket and actual operating arrangements.
FitsAir8DCMB / AMD / BKK / DAC / DXB / KUL / LHE / MLEBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
IndiGo6EDEL / BOM / BLR / HYD / MAA / CCU / NMI / AMD / PNQ / COK / IXC / BBIBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Air IndiaAIDEL / BOM / CCU / MAA / ATQ / IXL / BLR / AMD / HYD / IXC / LHR / SINBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
EmiratesEKDXB / BKK / ACC / ATH / BCN / CMB / GIG / HKG / JFK / LCA / LUN / MIABandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
flydubaiFZDXB / CMB / MLE / PEN / ZNZ / JMK / ADD / AER / AHB / AJF / ALA / AMDBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
China Eastern AirlinesMUPVG / KMG / XIY / WUH / NKG / PKX / SHA / TFU / TAO / TYN / HFE / KHNBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Chongqing AirlinesOQCKG / CAN / HYN / DLU / SHE / CSX / CMB / DLC / HGH / JHG / LYI / NGBBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
SaudiaSVJED / RUH / MED / DMM / CAI / CMN / DAC / IST / KUL / KWI / LHR / AMMBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi3LAUH / ALA / AMD / AMM / BAH / BEY / CAI / CCJ / CCU / CGP / CMB / COKBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
AirAsiaAKKUL / BKI / JHB / KCH / PEN / KBR / SIN / CAN / LGK / MYY / SBW / SGNBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Air ChinaCAPEK / TFU / PKX / PVG / CKG / HGH / CTU / TSN / WUH / HET / CAN / WNZBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Cathay PacificCXHKG / TPE / KIX / NGO / NRT / ADL / AKL / AMS / BCN / BKK / BLR / BNEBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Etihad AirwaysEYAUH / ATH / ADD / AER / AGP / AMD / AMM / AMS / ATL / BAH / BCN / BEYBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Thai AirAsiaFDDMK / BKK / CNX / HKT / HDY / KKC / TPE / UTH / KBV / OKA / URT / BFVBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Air ArabiaG9SHJ / RKT / CAI / CCJ / DME / JED / KZN / PEW / SVX / ADD / AER / AHBBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Gulf AirGFBAH / DMM / MXP / ATH / BOM / CAI / ISB / LHE / MLE / BKK / COK / MAABandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Air SeychellesHMSEZ / AUH / CMB / JNB / MRU / PRI / TLVBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Jazeera AirwaysJ9KWI / DMM / CAI / ADJ / AQI / ATZ / BLR / BOM / DAC / DXB / HBE / HMBBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
JetstarJQMEL / SYD / BNE / OOL / DPS / PER / ADL / CNS / AKL / CHC / DRW / HBABandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Kuwait AirwaysKUKWI / DMM / CDG / AMM / BOM / CAI / DAC / LHE / LHR / NCE / AMD / CMBBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Malaysia AirlinesMHKUL / JHB / JED / MED / ADL / AKL / AMD / AOR / ATQ / BKI / BKK / BLRBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Batik Air MalaysiaODKUL / SZB / PEN / DPS / BKI / SIN / JHB / KMG / CGK / KCH / LGK / CANBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Salam AirOVMCT / SLL / DMM / BGW / ALA / BEY / BKK / BLR / BOM / CCJ / CGP / CMBBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Qatar AirwaysQRDOH / ABV / ABJ / ACC / CMN / DAR / HKT / JIB / JRO / LUN / MCT / MELBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Singapore AirlinesSQSIN / BCN / FRA / JFK / JNB / LAX / MXP / NRT / ADL / AKL / AMD / AMSBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
AeroflotSUSVO / LED / KJA / SVX / AER / VVO / KHV / KRR / OVB / AYT / HRG / SSHBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Thai Airways InternationalTGBKK / AMD / AMS / ARN / BLR / BOM / BRU / CAN / CCU / CDG / CEI / CGKBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Turkish AirlinesTKIST / AYT / GRU / JNB / NIM / OUA / ACC / AMM / AQJ / BJL / BKK / BKOBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
Edelweiss AirWKZRH / SID / BVC / CTA / MCT / MRU / SEZ / SLL / SUF / ACE / AGA / EVEBandaranaike Airport’s current airline directory lists this airline; confirm CMB, travel dates and operating arrangements.
BelaviaB2MSQ / SVO / GME / LED / BQT / VKO / AER / ALA / BUS / CXR / DEL / DMEBelavia’s 2026 operating report includes Mattala (HRI); confirm seasonal availability, travel dates and the airport before booking.

How to travel around Sri Lanka by air

What to expect when flying between cities or connecting after an international arrival.

Flying between cities in Sri Lanka

  • Check Sri Lanka scheduled and charter flights separately
    Cinnamon Air describes scheduled and charter flights within Sri Lanka using wheeled and amphibian aircraft. Confirm the airport or water aerodrome, seasonal programme, dates and baggage conditions before booking; not every destination has scheduled service.

Arriving from another country

  • Ask BIA information or the airline about lost baggage
    BIA’s baggage-services page directs lost-baggage enquiries to information desks or the airline office, with the nearest information counter able to assist. Provide your flight and loss details and follow the appropriate handling channel.

Popular cities to visit in Sri Lanka

Open an airport guide to compare airlines, nonstop destinations and practical travel information.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte CMB

The national capital city.

Colombo CMB

View the registered travel guide for this city.

International routes to Sri Lanka

Compare arrival airports and plan for time zones, baggage and onward connections.

Popular international flight routes to Sri Lanka
RouteArrival airportRegion
DXB to CMBCMBAE
SIN to CMBCMBSG

Before you fly to Sri Lanka

Complete these checks before departure.

Cabin allowance cannot become extra checked allowance

SriLankan Airlines states that leaving cabin baggage unused does not permit combining cabin and checked allowances. Check both entitlements on your e-ticket and the operating conditions for multi-airline travel.

Explore Sri Lanka travel information

Continue to detailed pages for cities, airports, airlines and routes.

Cities

Sri Jayawardenepura KotteColombo

Airports

CMB CMBHRI HRIJaffna JAF

Airlines

SriLankan AirlinesFitsAirIndiGo

To

Dubai → CMBSingapore → CMB

Sri Lanka flight and airport FAQs

Does travelling without cabin baggage increase SriLankan checked allowance?

No. The airline states that the two allowances are provided separately and cannot be combined.