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Sri Lanka's premier international gateway near Colombo.
Opened
1964
Location
Katunayake (Colombo), Sri Lanka
Bandaranaike International Colombo Airport (CMB) is the largest and busiest airport in Sri Lanka, serving as the primary hub for international air travel to and from the country. Located in Katunayake, approximately 30 kilometres north of Colombo, it handles the vast majority of the nation's international passenger and cargo traffic.
Named after former Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranaike, the airport is operated by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited. It serves as the main hub for SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, and handles tens of millions of passengers in peak years.
The airport has undergone significant expansions and modernisation efforts, including upgrades to its terminal and airside infrastructure, to accommodate growing passenger volumes and larger aircraft serving key routes across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Terminals
The airport operates a single main international passenger terminal with a dedicated domestic wing and separate cargo facilities.
Getting to & from
Ground transport options include taxis, ride-hailing services, and airport express bus services connecting the airport to central Colombo, approximately 30 kilometres away.
Airlines here
SriLankan Airlines uses CMB as its primary hub, while Emirates, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, Air India, Cathay Pacific, and several other international carriers operate regular services.
Notable facts
- ›Named after Prime Minister Solomon W. R. D. Bandaranaike, assassinated in 1959.
- ›Located in Katunayake, not within the city of Colombo itself.
- ›Operates 24 hours a day and handles the overwhelming majority of Sri Lanka's international air traffic.
- ›The airport's ICAO code VCBI reflects its classification within the Colombo FIR.
- ›A second international airport, Mattala Rajapaksa International, was opened in 2013 to ease capacity pressure but has seen very limited traffic.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
