Transport in Sri Lanka is based on its road network, which is centred on the country's commercial capital Colombo. A rail network handles a portion of Sri Lanka's transport needs. There are navigable waterways, harbours and three international airports: in Katunayake, 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Colombo, in Hambantota, and in Jaffna.
Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, and 752,993 in the Municipality. It is the financial centre of the island and a tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is itself within the urban/suburban area of Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings and monuments.
Gampaha is an urban city in Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated to the north-east of the capital Colombo. It is the sixth largest urban area in Western Province, after Colombo, Negombo, Kalutara, Panadura and Avissawella. Gampaha is also the second largest municipal centre in Gampaha district, after Negombo. Gampaha has a land area of 25.8 ha and is home to the offices of 75 government institutions.
Battaramulla is a suburb of Colombo, situated 8.4 km (5 mi) from the city centre at Colombo Fort, near the Parliament of Sri Lanka. It is one of the fastest developing administrative, commercial and residential areas in the Colombo District, being home to the country's elite. Battaramulla is an important town in Sri Lanka, because of the Sri Lankan government's decision to locate all the government department head offices in this town.
Homagama is a town in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) south-east of Colombo. The Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha consists of the Homagama divisional secretariat and 10 GN division of Padukka DS division. The total Land area is about is 137 square kilometres (53 sq mi) of 90 GN division. The Pradeshiya Sabha was established under act No 15 of 1987, and has the highest population of any pradeshiya sabha area in Sri Lanka. It is home to notable places, such as the campus of the National School of Business Management, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, the Panagoda Cantonment, Upali Newspapers, Mahinda Rajapaksha College Homagama, St. Michael's College, Homagama, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Biscuits Limited and the Laxapana Battery Company.
Maharagama is an outer suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka on the High-Level (A4) Road about 10 km (6.2 mi) from the centre of the commercial capital. It developed rapidly in the 1980s as a dormitory suburb. Governed by the Maharagama Urban Council, the town possesses facilities like supermarkets, department stores, clothing, food and beverages shops to fulfill the needs of citizens.
Kalutara or Kalutota is a major city in Kalutara District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is also the administrative capital of Kalutara District. It is located approximately 43 km (27 mi) south of the capital Colombo.The city holds a unique position for one of the four major rivers in Sri Lanka which joins the sea at the center of the city. Kaluthara is known for making rope, baskets, and other articles from the fibre of the coconut palm. The area also produces the Mangosteens, a fruit introduced from Malaysia in the 19th century.
Panadura is a city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 27 km (17 mi) south of Colombo and is surrounded on all sides by water; the Indian Ocean, the Bolgoda Lake and river. Panadura is famed as the location of important events in the Buddhist revival movement of Sri Lanka.
Pannipitiya is a suburb of Colombo city. It is an area in Colombo District, Sri Lanka and is located about 15 km from the commercial capital. Pannipitiya is subdivided into a number of smaller areas.
Kottawa is one of main suburbs in Colombo and is administered by the Maharagama Urban Council. It is located 21 km (13 mi) from the centre of Colombo.
Minuwangoda is a town in Gampaha district, governed by an Urban Council, situated near Negombo, Western Province of Sri Lanka. It is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of Negombo and 35 kilometres (22 mi) north east of Colombo. It is an important junction town, connecting the Negombo to Kandy road with the A1/A6 main road from Colombo to Kurunegala. The main bus route 5 from Colombo to Kurunegala passes through the town. The town is also situated near the Bandaranaike International Airport, on the way to Negombo.
Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.
Piliyandala is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is situated approximately 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of Colombo. It is one of the relatively more populated suburbs located in the Colombo District of the Western Province, Sri Lanka and it is surrounded by the suburbs of Moratuwa, Kesbawa, Maharagama, Pannipitiya, Bandaragama and Kahathuduwa. Piliyandala has a thriving market in the town centre and the Kesbewa Urban Council is also located in Piliyandala.
Colombo Public Library is the largest public library in Sri Lanka, located in Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
The A4 Highway also known as the Colombo-Batticaloa highway, is the longest highway in Sri Lanka, at 430 kilometres (270 mi) in length. It connects Colombo with Batticaloa, through many important cities in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Eastern provinces.
Godagama is a town close to city of Colombo Sri Lanka. It is located in Colombo District within the Western Province, Sri Lanka.
Fort railway station is a major rail hub in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways, with many inter-city and commuter trains entering each day. Fort Station is the main rail gateway to central Colombo; it is the terminus of most intercity trains in the country.
Danowita is a small town in the western province of Sri Lanka. It is 50 kilometres (31 mi) to Colombo, 59 kilometres (37 mi) to Kandy, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) to Kurunagala. The A1 highway passes by Danowita. Bandaranaike International Airport is the nearest airport.
The Western Region Megapolis is an urban planning, zoning, and development area stretching from Negombo in the north to Beruwela in the south, and was formulated as a project aimed at creating a planned megapolis in Sri Lanka's Western Province by 2030.
Trams existed in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo from 1899 to 1960.
