It’s official, Sri Lankan Airlines is the latest member of OneWorld, hot on the heels of US Airways and TAM!  Depending on the routing rules of your OneWorld airline’s frequent flyer program, this can open up some great opportunities for mini-eco-tourism stops when flying between Europe & Asia.  Have a look at the route map.  I highlighted the destinations Sri Lankan serves with their own metal as code-shares usually can’t be booked as awards.

SPENDING A DAY LAYOVER IN COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

Most nationalities can transit Sri Lanka without a visa.  This makes it very easy to do a day trip to Kithulgala for some amazing birding!

Transit visa

Transit visa up to 48 hours currently issued free of charge only at www.eta.gov.lk (travelers must have ETA reference number)

If there is any inquiry regarding ETA pleases contact:

Hotline: 0094 71 9967888
fax: 0094 11 2674631
email: eta@immigration.gov.lk

Now in actual practice, you will only get less than 24 hours if you are using a transit through Colombo as part of an award.  This is still time to make a day trip to Kithulgala.  I’ve blogged about my stay there last year.  Even though we stayed the night, it’s close enough to the airport that you could hire a taxi for the day in the arrival hall to go there.