Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotteශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ
Treat Kotte as the legislative capital, not a destination; stay in Colombo, which has the trip line and most services.
Rules in force · 3
- Sri Lanka ↗Apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation only on the official government ETA site; lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules and fees change.
- Sri Lanka ↗At temples cover shoulders and knees, take off shoes and hats, and never pose with your back to a Buddha statue; Buddha images on clothes or tattoos cause offence.
- Sri Lanka ↗Carry Sri Lankan rupees in small notes; tuk-tuks, buses and small shops are cash-only, and ATMs are fewer outside the cities.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital of Sri Lanka and sits just east of Colombo, the executive and judicial capital and largest city. Parliament is here, on an artificial lake. Most visitors use Colombo as their base and pass through Kotte only briefly.
At a glance
- Known for
- Parliament complex on the lake · Diyawanna Oya lake · Kotte-era history · Government offices
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Avoid
- May–Sep (southwest monsoon)
- Nights
- 0–1
- Airports
- CMB Bandaranaike International (North of Colombo, about a road transfer from Kotte)
Where to sleep
Colombo (Fort or Colombo 3)
Most hotels are in Colombo; Kotte is a short ride away.
Getting around
Taxis and three-wheelers link Kotte to Colombo. There is no metro; roads are busy at rush hour.
Watch out
- Parliament is not generally open to casual visitors: check access first.
- Traffic between Kotte and Colombo can be slow.
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
Sources
Sources
- Sri Lanka Tourism (official)
- Wikivoyage — Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (secondary)