Sri Lankan Airlines. Photo / Supplied
Rebecca Foreman flies from Sydney International Airport to Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport - the largest and busiest airport in Sri Lanka - with SriLankan Airlines.
Visas and requirements:
Australian and New Zealand passport holders require a visa to enter Sri Lanka. The easiest option is to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online via the official government portal. Approval is typically granted within 24–72 hours and is valid for short stays of up to 30 days, with double entry permitted for tourism purposes. It is possible to obtain an ETA on arrival at the airport.
There are currently no mandatory Covid-19 vaccination or testing requirements for entry. However, your passport should be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival.
Departure airport experience:
The economy check-in queues for Sri Lanka were notably light, barely extending beyond the partitions, likely a reflection of reduced demand amid ongoing regional tensions and rising fuel costs. If you want to pre-book your seat selection to gain an aisle or window seat, there is an extra cost involved. The check-in person thankfully grouped my family together across four seats.
Once through security and immigration, Sydney International Airport delivers as expected, with a strong mix of duty-free, luxury retail, travel essentials and Australian souvenirs. Food options are plentiful, from quick bites to sit-down spots, with Toby’s Estate a reliable stop for a proper flat white. Thankfully, the flight departed on time.
Seat:
I was seated in 61G, a middle seat in a 2–4–2 economy configuration, with a seat pitch of approximately 31–32 inches (78-81cm) and a width of around 17.5in (44.5cm) between the armrests. The seat offered a standard recline, though in practice, comfort was compromised once the seat in front was fully reclined; the in-flight screen became difficult to view.
The aircraft was an Airbus A330-300, configured with 28 Business Class seats in a 1–2–1 layout and 269 Economy Class seats. Economy spans roughly rows 20 through to the rear of the aircraft, with the cabin arranged primarily in a 2–4–2 layout, tightening slightly toward the back. There is no Premium Economy cabin on this aircraft.
Crew:
The cabin crew were warm, attentive and polished. Female attendants wore vibrant, sari-inspired uniforms, elegantly draped and reflective of Sri Lanka’s heritage, adding a strong sense of place onboard.
Passengers:
On the Sydney to Colombo flight, most passengers were Gen X, Gen Y, and majority Sri Lankan.
Food and drink:
The flight included two meal services alongside hot and cold beverages. Ceylon tea, naturally, taking centre stage, while the coffee was fairly average. Interestingly, there was no visual menu; the three meal options were presented verbally by the crew.
Dinner was served soon after take-off, with a choice of chicken curry, fish or vegetarian, accompanied by beer, wine, spirits and two juice options. I opted for the chicken curry, which was enjoyable, served with a warm bread roll, pasta salad and a passionfruit dessert. Between meals, snacks like sandwiches, Sri Lankan-style papadams and water were offered throughout the flight.
Entertainment:
SriLankan Airlines’ inflight entertainment system offers a mix of audio, games, movies, TV and an eReader, all accessed via personal screens, paired with headphones that feel like they’ve come straight from the cheapest factory. The TV selection leans nostalgic, with easy binge options including Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond and Full House.
There are around 200+ films available, spanning Hollywood, Indian and Sri Lankan titles. Western picks skew heavily toward the 80s, with a light scattering of newer releases. The selection feels dated and under par compared to other airlines. Live news, sport and weather channels are also included, along with a flight map feature to track your journey.
A services section, covering meal menus, surveys, USB and general information, was unfortunately not working on this flight. Duty-free shopping, however, was accessible throughout, both via the cabin and screen, with spirits, jewellery, scents, cosmetics and Sri Lankan souvenirs (including Dilmah tea) available.
Arrival airport experience:
Our arrival into Bandaranaike International Airport was smooth and immigration moved quickly with other passports funnelled through their own queues. Baggage collection was efficient, with bags appearing in steady waves rather than all at once. The terminal itself feels functional rather than flashy, but clean, well-organised and easy to navigate after a long flight.
There’s a selection of Duty-Free shops before clearing Customs. Arrivals offers the essentials: currency exchange counters, local SIM card vendors, transport desks and a handful of cafes and snack outlets. There’s a slightly old-school charm to the space, but it works, getting you from plane to palm trees with minimal fuss.
The best bit:
The on-board crew was the best part of this trip, friendly, helpful, apologetic of issues I raised and tried to find solutions. For example, when I flagged that the fully reclined seat in front made my screen unviewable, the solution was a makeshift piece of cardboard to prop it into place.
The worst bit:
Once the passenger in front fully reclined, the economy seat lost any practical TV viewing, an unfortunate oversight on a 10-plus hour flight. The in-flight entertainment and headphones seemed under par for a flight of this length.
Final verdict:
To elevate the experience, consider bidding for a Business Class upgrade via SriLankan’s “Bid Now” programme (up to 12 hours before departure), or secure a bulkhead or preferred seat in advance, both paid options. Either way, come prepared: download your own content and bring headphones for a smoother journey.