Car rental in Katunayake starts at $18.72 per day, but that is the manual Datsun redi-GO. The best automatic value is the Suzuki Wagon R from $19.72 per day. There are 143 cars in the fleet. 58 cars have free cancellation. 118 cars have city delivery. 3 cars have no deposit. 110 cars have low deposit. 121 cars have no credit card required. 37 cars have full insurance available. 22 cars are new. 41 SUVs are available. Prices depend on the car selected and the season, and they update daily.

Yes. The Datsun redi-GO at $18.72 per day is MANUAL TRANSMISSION. It is the only manual car in the Katunayake fleet. Sri Lanka drives on the left. If you have not previously driven a manual car on left hand roads, do not choose this car. Every other car in the fleet is automatic. The Suzuki Wagon R from $19.72 per day is automatic and is the best value choice for first time visitors. The extra $1 per day is worth it for the automatic gearbox.

Yes. Katunayake is the airport. Bandaranaike International Airport, known as BIA or CMB, is Sri Lanka’s only international airport. Every visitor arrives here. Rentrals suppliers deliver cars to the airport zone or nearby hotels. There is no cross city transfer before you start your road trip. Book on Rentrals before you fly, pay 15 to 20 percent deposit, and confirm the pickup location with the supplier. Most suppliers meet you at the arrival hall or a nearby hotel. Big international chains charge $41 to $80 per day at BIA. Rentrals starts at $19.72 per day for an automatic Suzuki Wagon R.

The Suzuki Wagon R from $19.72 per day is the best value automatic choice. It is compact for Colombo traffic, reliable on expressways, and immediately familiar with automatic controls. There are 10 Wagon R variants from $19.72 to $23.22 per day. For longer drives to Kandy, Sigiriya or Anuradhapura, the Toyota Raize at $32.20 per day is the best choice. It is a new car with higher comfort and automatic transmission. Avoid the Datsun redi-GO at $18.72 per day. It is the only manual car in the fleet and not recommended for left hand driving beginners.

An IDP is recommended for all foreign visitors. You need a valid passport, a current home country driving licence, and the IDP. The IDP is available from AA or RAC in the UK for approximately £5 to £10. It cannot be obtained inside Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka drives on the left. All Rentrals cars at Katunayake are automatic except the Datsun redi-GO. An automatic car is strongly recommended for first time visitors to left hand roads. The E03 expressway from the airport to Colombo is the easiest first road to drive in Sri Lanka.

Yes. The direct route is Katunayake to A1 north to Kurunegala bypass to A6 to Kandy. That is 115km and about 2 hours 30 minutes. You do not enter Colombo city at all. The same bypass route continues to Dambulla (145km, 2 hours 45 minutes) and Sigiriya (170km, 3 hours). The entire Cultural Triangle circuit is reachable from the airport without one kilometre of Colombo city driving. This is the single most useful thing a first time Sri Lanka visitor with a rental car can know. Colombo traffic is dense, slow and confusing. The airport to upcountry bypass routes via Kurunegala are straightforward and fast.

Yes. 3 cars in the Katunayake fleet have no deposit required. 110 cars have low deposit under $300. 58 cars have free cancellation. Free cancellation means you can adjust your plans without penalty. The Suzuki Wagon R from $19.72 per day is a low deposit car with no credit card required. The Toyota Raize new car at $32.20 per day also has low deposit. City delivery is available on 118 cars. Full insurance is available on 37 cars. No credit card is required on 121 cars.

The return process is face to face. Meet the supplier at the agreed point, airport vicinity or nearby hotel, inspect the car together, and settle the remaining balance. No hidden damage claims and no unexpected charges after you board. If your flight is early morning, most international departures from CMB are between 1am and 6am, plan to return your car the evening before or arrange a very early morning return with your supplier. Confirm this at booking. Staying in Negombo on your final night means a 15 minute drive to return the car. 58 cars in the fleet include free cancellation if plans change.

Negombo is 8km north of Katunayake airport, about 15 minutes by rental car on the A1 highway or side roads. Most visitors spend their first or last night in Negombo. A rental car from Katunayake unlocks the full Negombo circuit in a single morning. The Negombo fish market is one of Sri Lanka’s largest, best at 6:30am for the catch auction on the beach. The Hamilton Canal, built by the Dutch in the 17th century, runs 120km along the lagoon edge. St Mary’s Church dates from 1874. The beach road is 3km of restaurants and sand. A Suzuki Wagon R at $19.72 per day covers all four stops in under three hours.

The E03 is a toll road connecting Bandaranaike International Airport to Peliyagoda in Colombo. Journey time is approximately 30 to 40 minutes. It connects at Peliyagoda to the rest of Colombo’s road network. The E03 is the easiest first road to drive in Sri Lanka: wide, fast, clear signs and left hand carriageway. It is a perfect introduction to driving here. The older A1 coastal highway is slower and more scenic. For the upcountry route to Kandy and Sigiriya, you do not need the E03 at all. Take the A1 north from the airport directly to Kurunegala.

143 cars are available in Katunayake on Rentrals. 121 cars have no credit card required. 118 cars have city delivery. 58 cars have free cancellation. 37 cars have full insurance available. 22 cars are new. 41 SUVs are available. Yes, book ahead. Katunayake is the entry point for virtually every foreign visitor to Sri Lanka. Demand is high year round. The Suzuki Wagon R from $19.72 per day is the most popular automatic. The Toyota Raize new car at $32.20 per day is the top pick for upcountry drives. Cheap car rental Katunayake Sri Lanka starts here.

Katunayake airport is the natural start and end point for Sri Lanka’s classic full island road trip. The classic 10 day circuit: Day 1 Katunayake to Kandy (115km, 2 hours 30 minutes). Days 2 and 3 Kandy, Temple of the Tooth and Peradeniya Gardens. Day 4 Kandy to Sigiriya via Dambulla (75km, 2 hours). Day 5 Sigiriya to Trincomalee (100km, 2 hours). Days 6 and 7 Trincomalee east coast. Day 8 Trincomalee to Ella via Haputale (220km, 5 hours). Day 9 Ella to Kataragama and Yala (140km, 3 hours). Day 10 Yala to Galle to Colombo to Katunayake (250km, 5 hours). The total circuit is approximately 1,000km over 10 days. All Rentrals cars have 1,400km daily mileage. You will not exceed your limit.