Flights from Pakistan to Sri Lanka

Is there a direct flight from Pakistan to Sri Lanka?

Quick answer: SriLankan Airlines is the airline to check: its route map lists Karachi and Lahore, and its Pakistan website sells both to Colombo. Pakistani citizens get a free 30-day tourist ETA, which you must get on eta.gov.lk before you fly. Sri Lanka is 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan.

SriLankan's public pages do not list the weekdays of its Pakistan flights or say whether every fare is nonstop, so we do not give a weekly count. News reports give numbers, but we only print what the airline itself publishes. All flights from Pakistan land at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), north of Colombo. For every city with nonstop flights to Colombo, see our direct flights guide.

Which Pakistani cities have flights to Colombo?

Two cities. This table shows what SriLankan Airlines' own pages showed on 1 November 2026.

Sources: SriLankan route map, SriLankan Pakistan, Karachi to Colombo, Lahore to Colombo.

How to read this: if you live in Islamabad, Rawalpindi or Peshawar, the simplest plan is a domestic hop to Lahore or Karachi and then SriLankan to Colombo. Book both legs on one ticket if you can, so a delay on the first flight is the airline's problem, not yours.

How do I check the flight days and times?

Use the airline's own booking search, not a third-party list. Enter Karachi or Lahore to Colombo and a date range of about two weeks. The search shows which days have a flight and whether the result is nonstop or has a stop. Do this for your real dates, because airline schedules change twice a year.

If your flight lands late at night, book your first night near the airport or in Negombo. Our Colombo airport arrival guide covers immigration, SIM cards, cash and taxis.

How much baggage can you take?

SriLankan Airlines' baggage page gave these allowances on 1 November 2026 for routes outside the Americas. Its area list puts Pakistan in the "SASC" group with India, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

No single checked bag may be over 32 kg. The airline says there can be exceptions based on the period, the routing and the fare type, so check what your own ticket says. If you are bringing gifts for family in Sri Lanka, weigh your bags at home first.

Do Pakistani citizens need a visa for Sri Lanka?

The site also says ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 will not be refunded. Lookalike websites charge for the free ETA, so type the address yourself. Our Sri Lanka visa guide has the full list of 40 countries and names the sites that official sources warn about.

What is the time difference with Pakistan?

Sri Lanka is 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan all year. Pakistan is on UTC+5 and Sri Lanka is on UTC+5:30, and neither changes its clocks.

There is no real jet lag. The bigger change is the heat and humidity on the coast if you come from Lahore in winter.

Do Pakistani visitors pay less at heritage sites?

Often, yes. Pakistan is a SAARC country, and the Central Cultural Fund tickets page, as read for our ticket guide on 24 October 2026, says SAARC citizens get a 50% discount at its sites, such as Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage also has a lower SAARC price: USD 11.80 for an adult against USD 17.70 for other foreign adults, on its official page on 1 November 2026. Bring your passport to the counter. Our Sri Lanka entry ticket prices guide has the full list, checked on 24 October 2026.

When should you go from Pakistan?

Sri Lanka has two rainy seasons that hit different coasts, so the best coast depends on your month. Our best time to visit guide covers each month, and the east coast vs south coast guide explains the two monsoons.

For the next three months, here is what the Department of Meteorology's consensus outlook, issued 30 October 2026, says:

The outlook links this to a strong El Nino. It is a forecast of chances, not a promise, so pack for rain in November and December. Our Sri Lanka in November and Sri Lanka in December guides have the coast by coast detail.

Can you add the Maldives?

Yes. SriLankan's Pakistan website has flight pages for Karachi to Male and Lahore to Male. Its route map lists Male as a flight from Colombo, so these trips go through Sri Lanka. Ask the airline whether your fare lets you stop for several days in Colombo on the way. Our Sri Lanka and Maldives itinerary shows how to split 10 days or 2 weeks between the two.

How should you plan the trip from Pakistan?

From the airport, the Colombo airport to Kandy guide and the Colombo airport to Galle and Mirissa guide cover the first road trip. Flying from Dhaka instead? See flights from Bangladesh to Sri Lanka.