Colombo is the central hub of Sri Lanka’s transportation network. Road transport is dominated by a vast fleet of buses—both state-run (SLTB) and private—that navigate the city's major arteries. For point-to-point travel, the iconic three-wheeled tuk-tuks are ubiquitous, alongside modern rideshare apps like PickMe and Uber.
The city is the nexus of the national railway system, radiating out from the historic Colombo Fort Railway Station to all corners of the island, including the scenic coastal and hill-country lines.
Internationally, Colombo is served by the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), located about 32 kilometers north in Katunayake, connected to the city via the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway. The older Ratmalana Airport in the southern suburbs primarily handles domestic flights and military aviation. While public transit is highly utilized, the city faces significant traffic congestion, prompting ongoing discussions and initial planning for light rail transit (LRT) systems.