Transport in Sri Lanka

Transport in Sri Lanka is based mainly on the road network which is centred on Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. There is also a railway network, but only handles a small fraction of the country's transport needs. There are navigable waterways, harbours and two international airports located in Katunayake, 22 miles north of Colombo and in Hambantota.

Road transport accounts for about 93 percent of the land transport in Sri Lanka. There are 12,000 km of A class and B class roads and 151.8 km of expressways, as of Oct 2013.

The Road transport network is divided in A, B, C and E class roads.

The Colombo–Matara Expressway is a 126 km long motorway linking Colombo, Galle, and Matara. It was built in 2011 to bolster the economy of the Southern Province. Other expressways are either under construction or proposed. The Colombo–Katunayake Expressway, Colombo-Kandy Expressway, and Outer Circular Expressway (Colombo bypass road) are currently under construction. Colombo–Padeniya Expressway has been proposed. Also, Sri Lankan government has proposed to build three elevated highways connecting the three main expressways.

The National Highways of the country are classified as 'A' and 'B' class roads. A class roads are further divided into 'AA', 'AB' & 'AC' classes.

The road density is highest in the southwest, especially in the area around Colombo. Highways are in good condition, with a smooth bitumen surface and road markings. The road network is at its densest around Colombo and its suburbs. Some rural roads are in poor condition. The roads that are most widely used across the country are being upgraded and repaved. In many rural areas, public transport is widely available, even in areas where operation is unprofitable.

Buses are the principal mode of public transport. Bus services are provided by the state-run Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and by privately run buses. SLTB serves both urban and rural routes. In many rural areas, it provides services in unprofitable areas that would be unattractive to private operators.

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Wikipedia