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CMB Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) serves Colombo, about 30 km north of Colombo. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATACMB
ICAOVCBI
ServesColombo
From centre28 km
Non-stop41
Airlines25
TimezoneAsia/Colombo
Elevation9 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport — facts & history

We pulled Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 432,857 passengers in 2021, against a peak of 10.0M in 2019.

Opened
1944
82 years ago
Passengers / year
432,857
as of 2021
Peak traffic
10.0M
in 2019
Elevation
9 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Sri Lanka Air Force
Passengers per year, 2011–2021

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Official links

Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport — official sites

Airport to city

Getting from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport to Colombo

The airport is about 30 km north of Colombo, about 39 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi.

Taxi & apps: PickMe and Uber (legal, cheap) are the easy way. A rank taxi with a price agreed first. Estimated fare to the centre: Rs2281–Rs3623.

Tipping: Round up; ~10%.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~27 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~39 minRs2281–Rs3623
Private transfer~39 minfixed upfront
Car rental~39 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From CMB to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Kandy84 km88 minRs6596–Rs10476
Nuwara Eliya102 km107 minRs7973–Rs12663
Galle131 km138 minRs10192–Rs16187
Anuradhapura139 km146 minRs10804–Rs17159
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~Rs2281–Rs3623 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Colombo ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

Non-stop flights to about 41 destinations, operated by 25 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: SriLankan Airlines · Malaysia Airlines · Saudi Arabian Airlines · Oman Air · Air India Limited · Cathay Pacific · China Eastern Airlines · Alitalia · Emirates · Korean Air

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Colombo shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Colombo

Same country

Other airports in Sri Lanka

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport to the centre of Colombo?
No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi. The airport is about 30 km north of Colombo, about 39 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport to Colombo?
Roughly Rs2281–Rs3623 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport?
PickMe and Uber (legal, cheap) are the easy way. A rank taxi with a price agreed first.
What's the cheapest way from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport to Colombo?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi.
Can I get from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport into town without a car?
Yes. No rail to the airport (CMB) — it's near Negombo, about 35 km from Colombo. An express bus to Colombo, or a taxi. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport?
About 41 destinations, including Male, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Mumbai. 25 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Colombo city guide← Sri Lanka travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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