First Day Abroad

Getting around Sri Lanka: transport and apps

Part of the Sri Lanka arrival guide.

This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

City transport and apps

PickMe is the national ride-hailing app for tuk-tuks, cars and vans; Uber works only in Colombo. In street tuk-tuks, board only 'Metered Taxi' vehicles and insist on the meter (flagfall 100 LKR). The 1990 Suwa Seriya app connects to the state ambulance service.

  • PickMe is the national ride-hailing app, booking tuk-tuks, cars and vans, with registration by phone number and SMS verification.
  • Uber works reliably only in Colombo and its suburbs. Elsewhere the driver network is minimal and the app is unusable.
  • Board only tuk-tuks marked "Metered Taxi" and insist the digital meter is on before setting off - flagfall is 100 LKR for the first kilometre.
  • If the driver refuses to start the meter, leave the vehicle immediately rather than being pressed for an absurd sum at the end.
  • City buses have no timetables or route maps at all, and fares are paid in cash on board, rarely above 100 LKR.

Urban public transport in the big agglomerations (Colombo, Kandy) consists of a network of state (CTB) and private buses. These services are extremely overcrowded, lack air-conditioning, and no timetables or route maps exist anywhere, physically or online. Fares are paid in cash to the conductor on board and rarely exceed 100 LKR per ride. These mobile apps are key to moving around cities efficiently and safely:

  • PickMe: The national ride-hailing leader. It books three-wheelers (tuk-tuks), regular cars and vans. Activation is by phone-number registration with SMS verification. Payment can go through a card registered in the app, though tuk-tuk drivers prefer cash.
  • Uber: Works reliably in Colombo and the adjacent suburbs. In the rest of the island the driver network is minimal and the app is unusable.

When using street tuk-tuks, board only vehicles marked "Metered Taxi" and insist the digital meter is switched on before setting off. The flagfall as of July 2026 is 100 LKR for the first kilometer, with a fixed per-meter rate added afterwards. If the driver refuses to start the meter, leave the vehicle immediately to avoid being pressed for absurdly inflated sums at the end of the ride.

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Arriving by air?1

Each airport has its own page for the way into town - the operator, the fare and what still runs late.

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Sources (3)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.