SriLankan Airlines
Terminal 3
- ColomboDaily
1
UK airport with scheduled direct flights
Heathrow
1
city in Sri Lanka with scheduled direct flights
1
airline with scheduled direct flights
SriLankan Airlines
10½ hours
Typical direct flight time from Heathrow to Colombo
SriLankan Airlines flies direct from Heathrow to Colombo every day. It is the only direct route from the UK to Sri Lanka, so from other UK airports you change planes on the way.
Direct flights from UK airports
Every UK airport with a direct flight to Sri Lanka, with the airline and the terminal it uses.
Other UK airports
No direct flights. You change planes on the way.
Tell us your UK airport and your dates, and we will price the options with one stop.
Flight details checked October 2026. Airlines change days and terminals from season to season, and we confirm them when we quote.
Cities in Sri Lanka
Flight details checked October 2026.
Mattala, for Hambantota
No direct flight from the UK.
For anywhere else in Sri Lanka, call us and we will price the flights for your dates.
Direct or with one stop
Flight details checked October 2026.
Direct
SriLankan’s direct flight takes about 10 and a half hours from Heathrow to Colombo, and about 11 and a half hours on the way back.
With one stop
With one stop you change planes on the way, for example with Emirates in Dubai. The journey takes longer, but you can start from UK airports with no direct flight to Sri Lanka, such as Manchester.
Tell us your dates and we will price both, so you can weigh the fare against the time.
Before you fly
ETA
You need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which is a form of visa, and you apply online before you travel at eta.gov.lk. Since 25 May 2026, the 30 day tourist ETA has been free for UK nationals. Children under 12 of any nationality also get it free.
Staying longer
To stay more than 30 days, apply for an extension through Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration. A visit can be extended up to 270 days from arrival, and extensions have a fee. The FCDO warns that overstaying your ETA can lead to detention, a fine, deportation at your own cost or a ban on coming back.
Changing planes in Colombo
If you are only changing planes and your next flight leaves within 24 hours, you do not need a visa.
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive.
Travel advice
Read the FCDO travel advice for Sri Lanka before you book. It does not advise against travel to any part of the country. It does warn of heavy rain, flooding and landslides in the inter-monsoon season. The advice changes, so read it again before you fly.
How we help
Tell us where in Sri Lanka you are going and the UK airport that suits you.
020 7993 8474Call our team on 020 7993 8474, Mon to Sat, 8am to 8pm UK, and we will price the direct flight and the options with one stop for your dates, then book the one you choose. We confirm the fare and the total with you before we book.
Or send us your dates below and we will contact you in opening hours. Out of hours, email sales@theukflights.com and we reply the next working day.
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The UK Flights, trading since 2009. IATA accredited agent 91201434. ATOL 10758 protection applies where the booking forms a package, and we tell you before you pay.
Send your dates to our team
Sri Lanka questions
Flight details checked October 2026.
For anything else, call us on 020 7993 8474, Mon to Sat, 8am to 8pm UK.
Are there direct flights to Sri Lanka from the UK?
Yes, on one airline. SriLankan Airlines flies direct from Heathrow Terminal 3 to Colombo every day.
Can I fly direct to Sri Lanka from Manchester?
Not at the moment. From Manchester you fly with one stop, for example with Emirates through Dubai, or you take the direct flight from Heathrow.
How long is the flight to Sri Lanka?
About 10 and a half hours from Heathrow to Colombo, and about 11 and a half hours on the way back.
Do I need a visa for Sri Lanka from the UK?
You need an ETA, which is a form of visa, and you apply online before you travel. For UK nationals the 30 day tourist ETA is free.
How long can I stay on an ETA?
30 days. You can apply to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to extend your stay, up to 270 days from arrival.
Which terminal does SriLankan use at Heathrow?
Terminal 3.