Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MATTALA RAJAPAKSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Opened in 2013,
Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport
(
Click here
)
is 15km north of
Hambantota near the south coast. Although it can handle the largest jets, it has yet to at-
tract many flights - but it has attracted criticism.
Tickets
ASIA
Sri Lanka is well served by major Asian carriers, including Malaysian budget favourite Air
Asia. Service from India is competitive between several carriers.
Many visitors combine a visit to Sri Lanka with the Maldives. SriLankan Airlines and
Emirates fly between Colombo and Malé.
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Connections are on Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. Using
Emirates requires major backtracking.
EUROPE
SriLankan Airlines links Colombo nonstop with major European airports. Connecting
through on a carrier such as British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and
Turkish Airlines is common.
NORTH AMERICA
You're literally going halfway around the world from Canada and the USA; from the west
coast connect through Asia, from the east coast connect through the Middle East or India.
Sea
Plans to resume ferry services between Mannar in northwest Sri Lanka and India have
been rumoured for many years, but have yet to materialise. A service linking Colombo and
Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) in India lasted only a few months.
