Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), is Sri Lanka’s main international airport, and many flights operate to and from here. There is a new and much larger airport in the South know as Mahinda Rajapakse International Airport(MRIA). The number of flights operating from here is limited for now but will grow as the regional traffic increases.

BIA is located in Katunayake, 30km north of Colombo. It has modern facilities including duty free shops which sell many branded goods, liquor, cigarettes, perfumes and a range of white goods. Major banks are represented by branches in the arrivals lounge, offering a good range of exchange, and there is an ATM that accepts most cards. It might be a good idea to register for a local mobile network. The sim card is free and the top ups can be done at any corner shop throughout the country. The mobile usage charges are very competitive and will give you the easy of being connected while traveling through the island.

There is a pre-paid taxi stand and several hotel and tour company booths just after you pass arrivals lounge. Be cautious with the pre-paid taxi stand as at times the vehicles are not available and the money is taken in advance without this aspect being mentioned to the travellers. You can wait as much as 1 to 3 hours for a vehicle to return back from a transfer. Public transport itself does not exist but a very irregular bus service operates outside the airport for local day to day travelers.

Avoid accommodation touts and transportation touts hanging outside the airport. There are many scams and you don’t want to ruin your Sri Lankan experience by making a wrong choice.

Ideally you should pre-book your airport transfer with a reliable tour operator or taxi company. Private transportation is generally expensive in Sri Lanka due to the high tax paid for imported vehicles, so don’t be surprised at the rates quoted.

If you are going to arrive late, it is best to book a hotel or guesthouse in Negombo for the first night (and arrange in advance to be picked up from the airport) and then start your travels or tour the next morning.