There are 4 ways to get from Jaffna to Colombo by bus, train, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus
best- Take the bus from Kachcheri to Pettah
6h 10mRs 1,300–2,700Train
- Take the train from Jaffna to Colombo FortKankesanthurai to Mt Lavinia / ...
6h 22mRs 1,300–13,000Drive 393.5 km
- Drive from Jaffna to Colombo393.5 km
6h 33mRs 16,551–23,907Fly
- Fly from Jaffna (JAF) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)JAF - CMB
4h 37mRs 69,439–107,110
Jaffna to Colombo by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Jaffna to Colombo is to bus which costs Rs. 1300 - Rs. 2700 and takes 6h 10m.
The fastest way to get from Jaffna to Colombo is to fly which takes 4h 37m and costs Rs. 65000 - Rs. 110000.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Kachcheri and arriving at Pettah. Services depart every three hours, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h 10m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Jaffna and arriving at Colombo Fort. Services depart twice daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 6h 22m.
The distance between Jaffna and Colombo is 415 km. The road distance is 393.5 km.
The best way to get from Jaffna to Colombo without a car is to bus which takes 6h 10m and costs Rs. 1300 - Rs. 2700.
The bus from Kachcheri to Pettah takes 6h 10m including transfers and departs every three hours.
Jaffna to Colombo bus services, operated by NCG Express, depart from Kachcheri station.
Jaffna to Colombo train services, operated by Sri Lanka Railways, depart from Jaffna station.
The best way to get from Jaffna to Colombo is to bus which takes 6h 10m and costs Rs. 1300 - Rs. 2700. Alternatively, you can train, which costs Rs. 1300 - Rs. 13000 and takes 6h 22m, you could also fly, which costs Rs. 65000 - Rs. 110000 and takes 4h 37m.
What companies run services between Jaffna, Sri Lanka and Colombo, Sri Lanka?
NCG Express operates a bus from Kachcheri to Pettah 3 times a day. Tickets cost Rs 2,700 and the journey takes 6h 10m. National Transport Commission also services this route every 4 hours. Alternatively, Sri Lanka Railways operates a train from Jaffna to Colombo Fort twice daily. Tickets cost Rs 1,300–13,000 and the journey takes 6h 22m.
- Website
- goindigo.in
Flights from Jaffna to Bandaranaike International Airport via Madras
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- Rs 60,000–95,000
- Phone
- +94 11 4 600 111
- Website
- seatreservation.railway.gov.lk
Train from Jaffna to Colombo Fort
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 22m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- Rs 1,300–13,000
- Website
- https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/
- 2nd Class Fare
- Rs 1,300–1,900
- 3rd Class Fare
- Rs 1,500–1,800
- Air Conditioned Saloon
- Rs 2,900–13,000
- Phone
- +94 76 714 8292
- ncgexpress@gmail.com
- Website
- ncgexpress.lk
Bus from Kachcheri to Pettah
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- Rs 2,700
- Schedules at
- https://ncgexpress.lk/
- Phone
- +94 011-2587372
- info@ntc.gov.lk
- Website
- ntc.gov.lk
Bus from Kachcheri to Pettah
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- Rs 1,300–1,650
- Website
- https://www.ntc.gov.lk/
- Schedules at
- https://www.ntc.gov.lk/times/
- Standard
- Rs 1,300–1,500
- Semi Lux
- Rs 1,700–2,400
- Super Lux
- Rs 3,200–4,100
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More Questions & Answers
Jaffna to Colombo bus services, operated by NCG Express, arrive at Pettah station.
Jaffna to Colombo train services, operated by Sri Lanka Railways, arrive at Colombo Fort station.
Yes, the driving distance between Jaffna to Colombo is 394 km. It takes approximately 6h 33m to drive from Jaffna to Colombo.
There are 1448+ hotels available in Colombo.










