Airports & Flights in Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka is a beautiful and diverse country that attracts visitors from all over the world. Its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and friendly people make it a popular destination for tourists. One of the key factors that contribute to its popularity is the convenient and efficient airport system.

Sri Lanka has two major international airports – Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, which serves the capital city of Colombo, and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, which serves the southern part of the country.

Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)

Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is the main gateway to Sri Lanka, located just 22 miles north of Colombo, the country’s capital. It was previously known as Katunayake International Airport until it was renamed in 1995 in honor of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

BIA is the busiest airport in Sri Lanka and serves as a hub for SriLankan Airlines, the country’s national airline. The airport has three terminals: Terminal 1 serves international flights, Terminal 2 serves domestic flights, and Terminal 3 serves cargo. The airport has undergone several renovations and upgrades over the years to improve its facilities, including a new passenger terminal, which was completed in 2013.

BIA handles over 10 million passengers per year and offers flights to over 40 destinations worldwide. The airport is well-connected to the rest of the country via road and rail, with frequent buses and trains running between the airport and Colombo and other major cities.

Sri Lanka Visa and ETA Online

Just before departure, it is important to contact the embassies and consulates to ensure that the entry conditions in the territory have not changed. We recommend you to scan or photocopy of all your important documents ( passport pages, credit cards, insurance, train tickets / airplane / bus, driving license, etc.). Keep these copies separate from the originals. This will more easily be replacing the documents in case of loss or theft.

Getting a visa Online via ETA

It is now possible to get a tourist visa for Sri Lanka to advance online. Before visiting Sri Lanka, perform the following steps to obtain a visa of 30 days :
Visit the official website of electronic travel authorization Sri Lanka – ETA ( www.eta.gov.lk ) several days before arrival.
Follow the application procedures and pay with a credit card.
Once authorized, print the confirmation visa.

It is still possible to get visas in embassies abroad Sri Lankan and those arriving without a visa can head to the desk specially provided for this purpose at the Bandaranaike International Airport, but they will have to wait with the crowd other travelers without a visa and pay a small penalty.

On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Maldives are exempt from the requirement to obtain ETA to visit Sri Lanka.

Only the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo, Sri Lanka (DI & E) has the authority to issue ETA

For more details Please visit –
www.eta.gov.lk
www.immigration.gov.lk