Suburb in Western Province, Sri Lanka
Kollupitiya
Kollupitiya is a major neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the periods of Dutch and British administration, a brewery for the conversion of coconut treacle into liquor had commenced and continued operation in Kollupitiya. The suburb is a thriving commercial area containing fashionable high-end shopping malls. Some foreign embassies are located in Kollupitiya, as is the official residence of the prime minister.
How locals move
Getting around Kollupitiya the local way
- Get inIt can also handle international charter flights.
- Get inYou can also take a tri-shaw aka tuk-tuk from the bus depot (get there by free airport shuttle bus), it takes a bit more than an hour and is Rs 2,500 (2024) from airport to Galle Road.
- Get inTake either the free airport shuttle to the bus station and then follow the road (Canada Friendship) to the Katunayaka South station (nearly 2 km, if you don't have luggage) otherwise just to take a tuk tuk right from the airport to the train station.
- Get aroundGetting around by Tri-shaw (Three wheeler, tuk-tuk) is most convenient.
- Get aroundBut it's best to hail a meter taxi (identified by the words "Meter Taxi" on its windshield) that is traveling in the direction that you need to go instead of hiring one from the parking area or the tuk-tuk stand.
- Get aroundThe Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority also operates its own fleet of 'tuk-tuks' around Colombo which are tourist friendly and metered to ensure that travellers are aware of the price being paid.
- Get aroundTourist board tuk tuks are distinguishable by their unique paintings.
- Get aroundTaxis are safer and much more comfortable than tuk-tuks.
From Wikivoyage: Colombo, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.