Colombo Jaffna Bus Service.

7:20 AM 9/10/2025

Colombo to Jaffna Luxuary and Semi Luxury bus services used to start from Wellawatte, Kotahena, Moratuwa and from Pettah Central bus Stand. And in Jaffna town this Bus service used to starts from Jaffna Muneeswaran road (New bus stand) near to Pullukkulam.. This bus service is prefered by the Foreign Tamil passengers who want to visit their home land. During the Nallur Murugan Temple Annual Festival, Deepavali and Pongal festival days lot of busses used to be deployed in this route. It is better to reserve your bus ticket at least one day before your journey. Also at the bus starting point, after getting your seat you can pay for it. SLTB buses used to start from Colombo Central bus stand and from Mount Lavinia. In addition one SLTB's Jaffna bus service is starting from Ratmalana bus Depot and ends at Point Pedro. Likewise these busses used to start from Jaffna town and Point Pedro SLTB Bus Depot. Before to book the bus ask about its Jaffna District Travel route. For example PointPedo bus will not go to Jaffna Town. Likewise there are Manipay road, Karainagar Road and KKS Road bus services available for the Colombo Jaffna bus route passengers. Most of the foreign return passengers used to send their large bags through courier services to and from Jaffna at extra cost. It make their travelling less burden.

Most of the Jaffna bound Foreign Tamil Tourists used to send their luggauges by private transporters.
Then they travel freely in the Colombo Jaffna Luxury bus services.
On the next day they go to the private transporterto collect their items. If they are ready to pay extra cash the transported will provide their bags at their homes.

Why people like to travel by bus in the Jaffna Route?

People from Pointpedro, Karainagr, and Kayts area don't have access to catch the Colombo - Jaffna train Service near to their homes.
They have to travel up to Kodikamam or Jaffna Railway Station.
Passengers have to treavel nearly 14 Km to reach the nearest Kodikamam Railway station. In addition people don't like to get down at any point on this route and don't like bargain with the three wheel drivers with their large bags. When they travel by Bus, it is easy to get down near to their home on the road by asking the bus driver to stop near to their home. In addition people from Karainagar, Manipay and Kayts too have travel some more distance to catch the Coloombo train.

Notice.
Currently one Luxuary bus is running between Jaffna and Colombo in the day time. "Ratna Transport" bus starts from Jaffna Town at 08:30 am in the morning and used to reach Colombo (Wellawatte) by 5:30 pm in the evening same day.

Wellawatte - Colombo 6, Bus Starting Point.

Colombo - Jaffna Private busses in the Night time, (9:00 PM) used to start near to Ramakrishna mission, on the Marine Drive Road, Wellawatte.
Colombo to Trincomalee and Batticaloa luxuary busses too start from this area in the night times.
Jaffna - Colombo Private busses are now starting from New Bus stand (Old Regal Theatre area). located on the Muniyappar kovil road in Jaffna.
During the Nallur Temple Annual Festival time, Jaffna bound passengers must get down at the Jaffna bus Stand and need to take Two wheeler from there to Nallur temple area. Some of the Jaffna bus service providers used to say you can reach Nullur Temple area. But it is a lie to catch you to book their bus seats.

Jaffna to Colombo bus Starting Point.

Jaffna Town: New Bus Stand at Muniyappar Kovil Road. Next to Pulluk Kulam.
Karainagar, Kankesanthurai and Poinpedro Busses used to start from their Owner's Garages and used to pass Jaffna Town Bus Stand.

Most of the busses that are operating on the Jaffna route is older ones.So don't book your seats without looking the bus and seats. It is better to select your bus and the seat at the time of starting time. Many of them don't have route permit. So they will not use main roads and will use side rods that will take long travelling hours. Moreover some of them don't have enough leg space, reclaining of seat not functioning and may have broken A/C blower holes.

Bus Stop on the Route.
Colombo and Jaffna bound busses will stop at Kanakarayan Kulam restaurant or at Puttalam (So Smart Pastry Shop) for Tea, Coffee, short eats and Meals. WC facilities too are available in these restaurants for the bus passengers.

Jaffna bound busses travel up to Kankesanthurai, Manipay and Point Pedro. All the busses will stop at the Jaffna Town except for the Point Pedro bound Busses.
Some Colombo bound Busses from Jaffna used to travel up to Dehiwala, Moratuwa and Nugegoda.

Jaffna Colombo Luxury Bus Seat Reservation.

Go to any of the ticket reservation agent
In Colombo -Galle Road, Wellawatte.
In Jaffna - Hospital Road.
Or directly visit any of the the Bus Company Office.
Select your seat from their seat chart.
Provide your Name and Mobile Phone number.
Once you pay for the Bus Ticket price, you will receive the reservation confirmation then and there.
Check it out clearly for the travel date and time.

Sample confirmation SMS of the Bus service provider.
Super Express
Kankesanthurai - Colombo 2023-07-10
Jaffna New Bus Stand at Muneeswaran Temple Road. (Mon 8:40 PM)
Seat Number: 33(M)
LKR 3,000.00
Agent: Vayuputhraa - 94773538549
1 luggage & 1 bag only.

What you need to carry with you in the bus while you are travelling to Jaffna or Colombo?

Enough Short eats / Biscuits and bottled water.
Neck Support Pillow for Sleeping. .
Fully charged Powerbank and Smartphone
Your Smartphone's Charger
Bluetooth Headset
One small blanket
Enough call minutes and mobile phone data plan Reload Cards.

Express Bus Service (Jaffna - Colombo - Jaffna)
▪ Daily A/C Coach service. Departure: 8.00 pm / 9.00 pm (Night).
▪ Super Luxury Passenger Bus (Made in Japan, China and in Germany) Service.
▪ Adjustable and fully comfortable seat
▪ Smartphone Charging USB and power cord facility provided in some vehicles.
▪ Free unlimited Wi-Fi access provided in some busses.
▪ Video Shows- Movie / Music
▪ Fully Air Conditioned (Controlled by the driver). If too much cold ask them to close the hole with plastic paper.
▪ Can buy ticket inside the bus before to depart from Colombo and Jaffna.
▪ If had purchased bus ticket, can board the bus from important cities on the route.

Jaffna - Colombo A/C Luxury Bus Ticket Price: Rs 3,000/- (One Way)
PPT Express ticket price: Rs 3,000/- (Colombo - Jaffna - Pointpedro, Colombo - Jaffna - Kankesanthurai)
Semi Luxury Bus: Rs 1,900/- up to Rs 2,500/-
Once you had reserved your bus seat on this route, you will get confirmation via SMS to your mobile phone with the seat number.
You can find these busses in the evenings along the Wellawatte Marine Drive road.

Tourist Transport in Sri Lanka.

• Katunayake Airport to Colombo van service price around Rs 6,500/-
• While in Sri Lanka use the SLTB App to reserve your bus seat to any destination.
• If Ladies are traveling alone, speak to the ticket booking counter and they will place her next to a lady, if such a seat is available.
  
• Before booking your bus seat with the agent make sure that the bus got "Route permit" for the Colombo - Jaffna Route.
• Travelling in a bus which don't have route permit will be a difficult task, they will stop in some places and will wait for the permit checkers to pass from that area.
• Keep a blanket handy as some busses become terribly cool once their A/C is on.
• Amount of A/C flow can't be controlled by the driver. Some passengers don’t like the A/C to be stopped even at this high cool while others may want to stop it.
• While stopping for tea, don't leave your hand bags or valuables unattended inside the bus.
• When traveling by bus from Jaffna, arrange someone to pick you at the Galle Road as the busses used to reach Colombo by 4.00 am to 5.00am and it may be dark there.