🛫 Terminal 1 — Single Building, Compact Layout

Airlines: SriLankan Airlines (UL, Oneworld member, dominant carrier), Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Singapore, Cathay, Indigo, Air India, Malaysia, Thai, China Eastern, China Southern, Aeroflot historically, Turkish, Saudia, Oman Air, plus seasonal European charters.

Vibe: Compact, functional Indian Ocean architecture. Recently refurbished with new boarding bridges and CIP/contract lounges. SriLankan Airlines is the home carrier — the bulk of UL European long-haul departures sit in the 22:00–01:00 wave.

🚧 Future Terminal 2

Status: Proposed but not built. Sri Lanka’s 2022–2024 economic crisis paused most major infrastructure including T2. Construction may resume late 2020s.

For 2026 travel: Single-terminal CMB. Newer travellers used to multi-terminal Asian airports may find it dated; capacity is occasionally tight during Sigiriya / cricket / Buddhist pilgrimage waves.

Sri Lanka eVisa / ETA — $50 USD

Apply at srilankaevisa.lk with passport scan, flight itinerary, hotel booking, and onward ticket. $50 USD standard 30-day tourist ETA, dual-entry. Apply at least 72 hours before flying — most approvals come back within 24 hours but some require manual review. Airlines will not issue a boarding pass without an approved ETA.

35-Day Free ETA Pilot

In 2024, Sri Lanka introduced a free 35-day ETA for citizens of select countries (China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan as the trial group). The list expands and contracts; verify your nationality’s current eligibility on the official portal before paying $50. The standard $50 ETA remains the default for US/EU/UK/AU visitors.

Yellow Fever (If Connecting)

Required only if you’re arriving from a yellow fever endemic country (most of sub-Saharan Africa, parts of South America). Direct flight from Europe / Middle East / Asia: no certificate needed. Transit via Lagos, Addis, Khartoum, Lima: bring the yellow card.

⭐ Express Bus 187 — Cheapest, 90 Minutes

Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus 187 from Katunayake Bus Station (500 m from terminals, free shuttle every 10 min) to Pettah Bus Stand in central Colombo. LKR 130 (~$0.50) single fare, ~1.5–2 hours depending on traffic. Operates 05:30–20:00, every 30 min.

📱 PickMe — Sri Lanka’s Uber

PickMe is Sri Lanka’s dominant rideshare app (Sri Lankan-founded, larger than Uber locally). Uber also operates. Typical fare: LKR 2,500–4,000 (~$8–12) to Colombo, LKR 1,500–2,500 to Negombo. Pickup zone is signposted at arrivals.

🚖 Official Pre-paid Taxi

The official Airport Taxi counter is just outside arrivals (right side). LKR 3,500–5,000 (~$11–15) to Colombo, LKR 1,500–2,500 to Negombo. Pay at the counter, receive a slip with driver name and vehicle. Cash or USD/EUR.

✨ Plaza Premium / Skylounge (T1 airside)

If you eat one Sri Lankan thing at CMB, eat rice and curry — the unofficial national dish, with 6–10 small dishes around a mound of rice (dhal, chicken curry, sambol, brinjal, beetroot, papadam). Hoppers (bowl-shaped fermented pancakes) and kottu (chopped roti stir-fry) are the two other can’t-miss dishes. Skip the airport Burger King — you’re in one of South Asia’s most distinctive cuisines.

Sri Lanka is the world’s third-largest tea producer; Ceylon tea at CMB is well-priced and well-stocked. Dilmah (the connoisseur Sri Lankan brand), Mlesna, Akbar all have airport boutiques. Single-estate teas (Nuwara Eliya, Uva, Dimbula) are the high-end picks; standard Ceylon black tea makes excellent gift packs. Vacuum-sealed; travels fine.

For carry-on gifts: Ceylon cinnamon (the “true cinnamon”, much milder than the cheap cassia variety from Indonesia/Vietnam), spice mix kits (curry powders, chili pastes), and Ceylon sapphires (the gem Sri Lanka is famous for — but stick to certified jewellers; airport boutiques like NoFI are reputable). Avoid the “ivory” carvings at gift shops; it’s usually fake but customs in your home country may not appreciate the ambiguity.

Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons affecting different coasts: the Yala monsoon (May–September) hits the southwest (Colombo, Negombo, Galle, Hikkaduwa) — heavy afternoon rain; the Maha monsoon (October–January) hits the northeast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay). CMB itself stays open year-round, but plan the beach side of your trip according to the season.

The Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya rock fortress, Anuradhapura ancient capital, Polonnaruwa medieval ruins, Dambulla cave temples) is most travellers’ second destination after Colombo/Negombo beaches. 4–5 hour drive from CMB; budget travel via SLTB bus, comfort via private driver (~$100–150/day) or rental car. The Cinnamon Air domestic shuttle can fly CMB to Sigiriya in 30 min — surprisingly cheap (~$120 one-way).

Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis devalued the rupee from LKR 200/USD to LKR 360+/USD. Inflation has stabilised in 2024–2026 but the LKR remains volatile. Carry USD or EUR cash as a backup — reputable Sri Lankan hotels and the airport accept dollars; small vendors prefer rupees. Withdraw fresh LKR at airport ATMs (Sampath, BoC, HNB are reliable) — avoid Western Union or hotel exchange counters.

Sri Lankan tap water is not safe to drink for foreign visitors. Stick to sealed bottled water (LKR 80–150 at the airport) or use filtered-water dispensers airside. Brushing teeth with tap is generally fine; don’t swallow.

Dialog, Mobitel, Hutch, Airtel have kiosks in arrivals — LKR 1,000–2,000 for 30-day data + voice tourist bundle. eSIM versions activate instantly. 4G coverage is good across the western/southern coasts and Colombo; weaker in the eastern jungle and the cultural triangle interior.

Sri Lanka is generally safer than India for solo female travellers but warrants situational awareness. PickMe and Uber are the safe choices — never accept a kerbside “executive transfer”. Both apps have in-app safety features. Modest dress is the cultural norm at temples and rural areas (covered shoulders + knees); the airport itself is no different from a European one. Negombo and Colombo beach hotels are tourist-saturated and feel safe at any hour.