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Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport
Sri Lanka's premier international gateway near Colombo.
- ›Named after Prime Minister Solomon W. R. D. Bandaranaike, assassinated in 1959.
- ›Located in Katunayake, not within the city of Colombo itself.
- ›Operates 24 hours a day and handles the overwhelming majority of Sri Lanka's international air traffic.
- ›The airport's ICAO code VCBI reflects its classification within the Colombo FIR.
- ›A second international airport, Mattala Rajapaksa International, was opened in 2013 to ease capacity pressure but has seen very limited traffic.
Bandaranaike International Airport, named after former Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike, has served as Sri Lanka's primary international gateway since 1964, located in Katunayake approximately 30 kilometres north of Colombo. The airport is the hub for SriLankan Airlines and handles the vast majority of the country's international passenger and cargo traffic. It plays a central role in connecting the island nation to destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
- Terminal 1 (International Terminal) — The main international terminal handling all scheduled international arrivals and departures, featuring duty-free retail, lounges, and immigration facilities.
- Terminal 2 (Domestic/Charter Terminal) — Handles domestic flights, charter operations, and select regional services, operating on a smaller scale adjacent to the main terminal.
- Express bus service (Airport Express) connecting to Colombo Fort Bus Terminal
- Public SLTB bus routes serving Colombo and nearby towns
- Pre-booked airport taxis and ride-hailing apps (PickMe, Uber)
- Car rental services available at the arrivals hall
- Metered taxis from the official airport taxi counter
- Private hotel shuttle transfers arranged through accommodation
- Jetwing Airport Garden Hotel
- Ramada by Wyndham Colombo Airport
- Airport Garden Hotel Katunayake
- Browns Airport Hotel
- Citrus Katunayake
Inside the terminal, passengers can find a mix of local Sri Lankan cuisine and international fast food options, including outlets serving rice and curry, kottu roti, and standard café fare in the departure lounge. Duty-free and airside retail areas also offer snacks and beverages. For a broader dining experience, the Katunayake town area just outside the airport perimeter has numerous local restaurants serving authentic Sri Lankan meals at budget-friendly prices.
- Arrive at least 3 hours before international departure as immigration and security queues can be lengthy during peak travel periods.
- Exchange only a small amount of currency at the airport; better rates are available at licensed money changers in Colombo city.
- PickMe is generally more reliable and transparent in pricing than hailing an unmetered taxi outside the terminal.
- Sri Lanka imposes strict customs regulations on bringing in foreign currency above USD 15,000 and certain food items — declare all goods honestly on arrival cards.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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