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Voykit pocket guide · Sri Lanka
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte
ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ / ஶ்ரீ ஜெயவர்த்தனபுர கோட்டை
Skip as a base: Colombo is 15 min away and has more to do. Visit only for the Parliament or a quiet walk around Diyawanna Lake — half a day is enough.
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is the legislative capital of Sri Lanka, but in practice it is a leafy suburb of Colombo. The main reasons to come are the Parliament complex, the old Kotte kingdom ruins and the lakeside paths. Most travellers stay in Colombo and visit Kotte for a few hours, if at all.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Local name
- ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ / ஶ்ரீ ஜெயவர்த்தனபுர கோட்டை
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Jun, Oct–Nov (monsoon rains)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LKR
- Money
- LKR in small notes for tuk-tuks, buses, tea and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rs 3,000–5,000 excl. bed · Mid Rs 5,000–10,000 excl. bed · High Rs 10,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Dialog, Mobitel (SLT-Mobitel) and Hutch sell tourist SIMs at the airport; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 119 · Ambulance 1990 · Fire 110
- Plugs
- Types D, G, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Old three-round-pin (D and M) and UK three-flat-pin (G) sockets both appear; bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Nothing extra if 10% service is on the bill; otherwise 10%.; Driver: Rs 2,000–3,000 a day at the end.; Safari jeep driver and tracker: Rs 1,500–3,000.; Guide: Rs 1,000–2,000 for a site visit.; Hotel staff: Rs 200–500; many hotels have a tip box.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels provide filtered water.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants, with a hose; squat toilets in bus stations. Carry tissue.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tuk-tuk ride within Kotte | Rs 200–400 |
| Bus to Colombo | Rs 50–100 |
| Rice and curry meal | Rs 400–800 |
| Cup of tea | Rs 80–150 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CMB · Bandaranaike International Airport
- About 40 km (25 mi) north; taxi to Kotte takes 45–60 min depending on trafficAbout 25 mi (40 km) north; taxi to Kotte takes 45–60 min depending on traffic
Typical fares
- Tuk-tuk Kotte → Colombo
- Rs 800–1,200, about 20 min
- Bus Kotte → Colombo
- Rs 50–100, about 30 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tuk-tuks are the main option; a ride within Kotte costs Rs 200–400. Buses run along the main roads to Colombo. Walking is pleasant along Diyawanna Lake but the rest of the area is spread out.
See and do
Known for
- Sri Lankan Parliament complex
- Diyawanna Lake
- Kotte kingdom ruins
- Expat residential area
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo | Tuk-tuk or bus along the Kotte–Colombo road, about 15–20 min | 20–30 min |
| Negombo | Bus or taxi via Colombo, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Kotte town centre
- A few hotels near the Parliament area; quiet but limited dining options.
- Colombo (Battaramulla or Nugegoda)
- Adjacent suburbs with more guesthouses and restaurants; 10–15 min by tuk-tuk.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | ආයුබෝවන්ayubowan |
| Thank you | ස්තුතියිsthuthiyi |
| How much? | කීයද?keeyada |
| Too expensive | ගොඩක් වැඩියිgodak wadiyi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Ayubowan' (Sinhala) or 'Vanakkam' (Tamil) with palms together; avoid: Kissing on the cheek
- Temples: White clothes, shoes off, walk clockwise; avoid: Posing with your back to the Buddha; pointing feet at statues
- Hands: Right hand to give and eat; avoid: Left hand for food or money
- Head wobble: A side-to-side nod means yes or OK; avoid: Taking it as no
- Dress: Swimwear only on the beach; shoulders and knees covered in towns; avoid: Topless bathing
- Buses: Leave front seats for monks, the elderly and pregnant women; avoid: Sitting next to a monk (women)
Scams and watch-outs
- Traffic on the Kotte–Colombo road can be heavy during peak hours.
- Parliament is closed to the public on weekends and public holidays; check the official site.
- Monkeys near the lake may grab food — keep bags closed.
Kotte is safe during the day. At night, stick to well-lit main roads. Tuk-tuk drivers may overcharge — agree on the fare before getting in.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Sri Lankan Parliament complex
- Diyawanna Lake
- Kotte kingdom ruins
- Expat residential area
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kotte Municipal Council: kotte.mc.gov.lk
- Wikivoyage: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, revision 5116037 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5116037
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotteශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ / ஶ்ரீ ஜெயவர்த்தனபுர கோட்டை
මෙම ලිපිනයට කරුණාකර
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Colombo; the US, UK, Indian and Chinese embassies are about 20 min away by tuk-tuk.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sri-jayawardenapura-kotte). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.