Katunayake – Airport Location and Regional Destinations

Distinguish the place where you want to stay from the destinations that interest you in the surrounding area or the wider Western Province.

Katunayake and CMB Airport

Katunayake is home to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), Sri Lanka’s main international airport. The airport is therefore a key landmark for the area. The natural and cultural sites in the wider region each have their own local context.

Wetlands and forest in Gampaha District

Muthurajawela Wetland Reserve and NARA Mangrove Sanctuary are located in Gampaha District. Both are among Sri Lanka’s most important coastal wetland reserves. Muthurajawela Marshland is considered a visitor attraction open to the public in the district. Another natural highlight is Horagolla Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka’s smallest forest reserve. Together, the wetlands and forest reserve represent different landscape themes in the wider area around Katunayake.

Coast and history in nearby Negombo

Nearby Negombo is a beach resort on Sri Lanka’s west coast. Its main attractions include wide sandy beaches and a sea considered safe. The town’s history also shapes its range of sights: the old Dutch Fort Gate was built in 1672 and is now part of the prison. The Dutch Canal served as a supply route for the Dutch administration; old churches and fishing villages are also among the sights. The beach and the town’s history therefore offer a different focus from the wetlands and forest landscapes in Gampaha District.

Gardens in the wider destination of the Western Province

The Western Province is the wider regional setting for other natural and cultural destinations. Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanic Gardens was established as Sri Lanka’s first botanical garden dedicated exclusively to conserving wet-zone flora. Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens has a different historical focus: it was established in 1876 to introduce rubber to Sri Lanka and contains plant collections of around 2,000 species from Sri Lanka and other countries. The old Henarathgoda Railway Station has been preserved as a site of historical archaeological significance. Henarathgoda Botanic Gardens is about 450 metres from Gampaha Railway Station.

Cultural sites and annual festivals in the Western Province

The cultural destinations in the wider destination of the Western Province also offer a range of historical and religious points of interest. Colombo National Museum was established in 1877 as Sri Lanka’s first national museum. The grounds of Gangaramaya Temple include a museum and a library. Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara features paintings and sculptures by Solias Mendis; Kelaniya Temple is dedicated to the Buddha’s third and final visit to Sri Lanka.

Two annual festivals are relevant when planning your dates: Kelaniya Duruthu Perahera takes place on the full-moon Poya day in January, while Gangarama Nawam Maha Perahera is held every year in February. If either festival is a key reason for your trip, check the specific event dates for the year in question.

Set your search location to the place where you plan to stay.

Discover more destinations: Negombo, Siyambalapitiya, Kiribathgoda, Gampaha, Dalugama, Ja-Ela, Bopitiya, Welisara.

Go to the wider travel overview: Gampaha.