There are 7 ways to get from Matara to Jaffna by bus, train, car, taxi, 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 Matara Bus Station to Fort Stationbus Matara
- Take the bus from Pettah to Jaffnabus
9h 50mRs 3,222–3,268Train
cheapest- Take the train from Matara to Fort Stationtrain Beliatta
- Take the train from Colombo Fort to Jaffnatrain Colombo / ...
11h 48mRs 1,540–17,953Bus, train
- Take the bus from Matara Bus Station to Fort Stationbus Matara
- Take the train from Colombo Fort to Jaffnatrain Colombo / ...
10h 15mRs 1,822–13,568Drive 528.7 km
- Drive from Matara to Jaffnacar 528.7 km
8h 2mRs 22,230–32,111Taxi to Bandaranaike International Airport, fly to Jaffna
- Take the taxi from Matara to Colombo-Airport-CMBtaxi
- Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Jaffna (JAF)plane CMB - JAF
6h 55mRs 93,381–163,677Fly Koggala to Sigiriya Airport, bus
- Fly from Koggala (KCT) to Sigiriya Airport (GIU)plane KCT - GIU
- Take the bus from Dambulla to Kachcheribus
27h 30mTaxi to Bandaranaike International Airport, fly to Sigiriya Airport, bus
- Take the taxi from Matara to Colombo-Airport-CMBtaxi
- Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Sigiriya Airport (GIU)plane CMB - GIU
- Take the bus from Dambulla to Kachcheribus
7h 32m
Matara to Jaffna by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Matara to Jaffna is to bus and train which costs Rs. 1800 - Rs. 14000 and takes 10h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Matara to Jaffna is to taxi and fly which takes 6h 55m and costs Rs. 90000 - Rs. 170000.
No, there is no direct bus from Matara station to Jaffna. However, there are services departing from Matara Bus Station and arriving at Jaffna via Pettah. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 50m.
No, there is no direct train from Matara to Jaffna. However, there are services departing from Matara and arriving at Jaffna via Colombo Fort. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 48m.
The distance between Matara and Jaffna is 565 km. The road distance is 528.7 km.
The best way to get from Matara to Jaffna without a car is to bus which takes 9h 50m and costs Rs. 3220 - Rs. 3270.
It takes approximately 9h 50m to get from Matara to Jaffna, including transfers.
Matara to Jaffna bus services, operated by National Transport Commission, depart from Matara Bus Station.
Matara to Jaffna train services, operated by Sri Lanka Railways, depart from Matara station.
The best way to get from Matara to Jaffna is to bus which takes 9h 50m and costs Rs. 3220 - Rs. 3270. Alternatively, you can train, which costs Rs. 1500 - Rs. 18000 and takes 11h 48m.
What companies run services between Matara, Sri Lanka and Jaffna, Sri Lanka?
You can take a bus from Matara Bus Station to Jaffna via Fort Station and Pettah in around 9h 50m. Alternatively, you can take a train from Matara to Jaffna via Colombo Fort in around 11h 48m.
- Website
- goindigo.in
Flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Jaffna via Madras
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 65,000–130,000
Flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Jaffna via Tiruchirapalli
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- Rs 80,000–130,000
- Website
- cinnamonair.com
Flights from Koggala to Sigiriya Airport via Bandaranaike International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 22h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 11,000–90,000
Flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Sigiriya Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- Rs 13,000–110,000
- Phone
- +94 11 4 600 111
- Website
- seatreservation.railway.gov.lk
Train from Colombo Fort to Jaffna
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- 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
Train from Matara to Fort Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 8m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- Rs 240–5,000
- Website
- https://seatreservation.railway.gov.lk/mtktwebslr/
- 2nd Class Fare
- Rs 1,300–1,900
- 3rd Class Fare
- Rs 1,300–1,600
- Air Conditioned Saloon
- Rs 2,600–5,000
- 3rd Class
- Rs 1,802
- 2nd Class
- Rs 240
- 1st Class
- Rs 2,163
- Phone
- +94 011-2587372
- info@ntc.gov.lk
- Website
- ntc.gov.lk
Bus from Matara Bus Station to Fort Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- Rs 520–570
- Website
- https://www.ntc.gov.lk/
- Schedules at
- https://www.ntc.gov.lk/times/
- Standard
- Rs 520–570
- Semi Lux
- Rs 600–900
- Super Lux
- Rs 1,100–1,500
- Phone
- +94 76 714 8292
- ncgexpress@gmail.com
- Website
- ncgexpress.lk
Bus from Pettah to Jaffna
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- Rs 2,700
- Schedules at
- https://ncgexpress.lk/
Bus from Dambulla to Kachcheri
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Schedules at
- https://ncgexpress.lk/
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 4m
- Estimated price
- Rs 27,000–33,000
Visit Sri Lanka Taxi
- Phone
- +94 763222239
- Website
- visitlankataxi.com
Pickme
- Phone
- +94117433433
- Website
- pickme.lk
Kandy Meter Taxi
- Phone
- +94 81 49 55 655
- Website
- kandy-taxi.business.site
Visit Sri Lanka Taxi
- Phone
- +94 763222239
- Website
- visitlankataxi.com
Pickme
- Phone
- +94117433433
- Website
- pickme.lk
Kandy Meter Taxi
- Phone
- +94 81 49 55 655
- Website
- kandy-taxi.business.site
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More Questions & Answers
Matara to Jaffna bus services, operated by National Transport Commission, arrive at Fort Station.
Matara to Jaffna train services, operated by Sri Lanka Railways, arrive at Fort Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Matara to Jaffna is 529 km. It takes approximately 8h 2m to drive from Matara to Jaffna.
There are 180+ hotels available in Jaffna.










