10 best places in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

The official administrative and legislative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, home to parliament and most ministries. Colombo remains the country's commercial, port and diplomatic centre, which is why it is still commonly called the capital. The two sit about ten kilometres apart and have merged into a single metro area.

Kotte is the government quarter: parliament on its island in Diyawanna Lake, ministries, agencies, new residential towers and wetlands. Colombo is the port, the business district, the hotels, the markets and the nightlife. There is no physical boundary between them, and the drive takes twenty to forty minutes depending on traffic.

You need an ETA, applied for online before departure. According to the immigration department, from 25 May 2026 the ETA is free for nationals of forty countries, including India, China, Japan, the UK, the US and most EU states; others pay around 50 US dollars. The tourist ETA allows up to 30 days with double entry. Rules have changed repeatedly, so verify on the official portal on the day you apply.

Half a day is enough. It does not warrant a separate trip: see Bawa's parliament across Diyawanna Lake, Diyatha Uyana park, Beddagana Wetland Park and the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya temple, then give the rest of the day to Colombo - the National Museum, Gangaramaya, Galle Face Green and Pettah market.

Foreigners cannot buy land freehold. Condominium units and long leases of land, generally up to 99 years, are available instead. The restrictions and exceptions are revised periodically, so check any specific transaction against the current law with a local lawyer rather than relying on a developer's presentation.