Colombo Bandaranaike Airport

Colombo Bandaranaike Airport is the busiest international airport of Sri Lanka. Located in Katunayake, 35 km. north of Colombo, it is administered by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. The airport began as a Royal Air Force base during the Second World War, RAF Negombo. When SWRD Bandaranaike removed all the British Military Bases from Sri Lanka in 1957, the base was handed over to the Royal Ceylon Air Force and renamed Katunayake. Part of the airport still remains an Air Force base.

In 1964, Anil Moonesinghe, the Minister of Communications, commenced the building of a new international airport with Canadian aid to replace Ratmalana. The new airport was completed in 1967 and Air Ceylon, the National Carrier, started out international operations from this airport using a Hawker Siddeley Trident and a hired BOAC BAC VC-10. For a short time, the airport was also a Trans World Airlines (TWA) hub.

It was named Bandaranaike International Airport after SWRD Bandaranaike in 1970. It was renamed Katunayake International Airport in 1977 but was renamed Bandaranaike International Airport in 1994.

Recent years have seen various expansion projects being undertaken at Bandaranaike International Airport. A pier with eight aerobridges opened in November 2005, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka.

Facilities at the Colombo Bandaranaike Airport include a bank, post office, business lounge, restaurants, snack bars, a bar and a duty-free shop. You can hire cars with a driver through any of the several tour operators. There are several car rental agencies available such as Abans and Nambo. Short and long-term parking is also available at the airport. Most of the hotels and tour operators offer transport from the airport; if possible confirm in advance. Buses and taxis are available for transportation and there is a railway station close to the airport, but visitors are advised to arrange their own transportation.