Lounge directory · CMB · Last reviewed 27 June 2026
Colombo Bandaranaike Lounges CMB: every lounge and how to get in
Colombo packs seven lounges into one terminal, and nearly all of them run 24 hours to match the midnight arrival banks. Here is the full map and how to get in.
- Lounge verdict
- Dense for the building's size, and almost all around the clock. SriLankan runs two rooms, the airport operates the Lotus, Araliya and Executive lounges, Emirates keeps its own, and the Palm Strip sells walk in entry. There is no Amex Centurion lounge here, but the Priority Pass and pay per use options are strong.
- Best access play
- Priority Pass opens the Lotus First Class Lounge near gates 6 and 7, 24 hours with a maximum stay of 6 hours. Without a card, the Palm Strip takes walk in payment from around 26 dollars, and the Emirates Lounge sometimes sells entry at the door for about 125 dollars.
- The one thing to know
- Almost everything is one connected airside concourse, so a lounge is reachable from any gate, unlike split terminal airports. Prices run high by Sri Lankan standards, so a lounge buffet is often better value than the terminal restaurants on a long wait.
Orientation
How the Colombo lounge map works
One terminal makes the Colombo lounge map simple. Every international flight uses the same building, and the lounges sit along the single departures concourse on level 1 and up on level 2, so wherever your gate is, a lounge is a short walk rather than a border crossing away. The decision here is about access and price, not location.
SriLankan Airlines is the anchor, with the Serendib Lounge on level 1 for its business class passengers and the Serenediva Lounge on level 2 for oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members plus FlySmiles elites, the latter with a free 15 minute Ayurvedic massage that is better than it has any right to be. The airport itself runs the Lotus First Class Lounge near gates 6 and 7, the Araliya business lounge for contracted carriers and an Executive Lounge. Emirates keeps its own room opposite gate 10, and the Palm Strip in the central concourse sells walk in entry. Hours and walk up prices change, so treat the figures below as verify at booking.
The lounges
Every CMB lounge in the terminal
| Lounge | Area and location | Access | Walk up | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus First Class Lounge | Airside, upper level near gates 6 and 7 | Priority Pass, Diners Club, contracted carriers | Pay in to be confirmed | The 24 hour Priority Pass pick, max stay 6 hours |
| Palm Strip | Airside, central concourse, level 1 | Walk in payment, LoungePair and resellers | From about 26 dollars, max stay 3 hours | The dependable pay per use door without status |
| SriLankan Serendib Lounge | Level 1, right of the escalators after immigration | SriLankan Business, oneworld First and Business | No public day pass | The home carrier business room, 24 hours |
| SriLankan Serenediva Lounge | Level 2, above the main pier | oneworld Sapphire and Emerald, FlySmiles Platinum and Gold | No public day pass | Quieter, with a free 15 minute Ayurvedic massage |
| Araliya Lounge | Airside, near gates 6 and 7 | Contracted oneworld, SkyTeam and Star carriers; Priority Pass reports vary | Varies by contract | The contract lounge most premium carriers use |
| Emirates Lounge | Airside, opposite gate 10 | Emirates First and Business, Skywards Platinum and Gold | About 125 dollars at the door, when sold | Emirates flyers, with paid entry sometimes offered |
| Executive Lounge | Airside, international departures | Airport run, contracted carriers and select cards | To be confirmed | A general purpose room; check access on the day |
Two things to read from the table. The Lotus Lounge is the one to plan around without status, since it runs 24 hours, takes Priority Pass and allows a stay of up to 6 hours, which covers most Colombo connections. And the Palm Strip is the reliable cash door, from around 26 dollars for up to 3 hours, when the Lotus is full or your program does not cover it. There is no Amex Centurion lounge at CMB.
The midnight rhythm shapes how these rooms feel. Because much of the long haul schedule lands and leaves between midnight and 4 am, the lounges stay genuinely busy in the small hours rather than empty, and the Lotus in particular can fill when several wide bodies arrive together. If you are connecting through that bank and want a seat, head for your lounge early rather than circling the duty free corridor first. Outside the peak, the same rooms are calm, and the round the clock restaurants on the concourse give you a backup if every lounge you can reach is at capacity.
Access decoder
What actually opens these doors
Priority Pass covers the Lotus First Class Lounge near gates 6 and 7, the standout option because it runs 24 hours with a maximum stay of 6 hours. Reports on Araliya Lounge access through Priority Pass vary, so check your app for the current list before you fly.
Paying at the door works best at the Palm Strip in the central concourse, from around 26 dollars for up to 3 hours, with flexible passes sold through LoungePair and similar resellers. The Emirates Lounge opposite gate 10 sometimes sells entry at the door for about 125 dollars per person, subject to space and the flight schedule.
Status and class of travel cover the rest. The SriLankan Serendib Lounge takes SriLankan Business and oneworld First and Business, the Serenediva Lounge takes oneworld Sapphire and Emerald plus FlySmiles Platinum and Gold, the Araliya Lounge serves contracted oneworld, SkyTeam and Star carriers, and the Emirates Lounge takes Emirates premium cabins and Skywards Platinum and Gold.
Showers are worth a mention, since a long haul connection often calls for one. Several lounges have them, most reliably the SriLankan Serendib Lounge, and the Serenediva Transit Hotel on level 2 sells shower access with a room or a recliner pass if the lounge you can reach does not have one free. That makes a wash easy to arrange here even without airline status.
Because it is one connected concourse, you are not tied to a zone the way you would be at a split terminal airport. Pick on access and price, confirm hours on the day, and remember the terminal runs expensive, so a lounge buffet often beats the restaurants for value on a long wait.
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FAQ
Colombo lounge questions
Which lounges at CMB take Priority Pass?
The Lotus First Class Lounge, on the upper level near gates 6 and 7, takes Priority Pass and runs 24 hours with a maximum stay of 6 hours. Reports on Araliya Lounge access vary, so check your Priority Pass app for the current list before you fly.
Can I pay to get into a Colombo lounge without status?
Yes. The Palm Strip in the central concourse takes walk in payment from around 26 dollars for up to 3 hours, with flexible passes sold through resellers. The Emirates Lounge opposite gate 10 also sells entry at the door for about 125 dollars per person when space allows.
How many lounges does CMB have?
Seven in the international terminal: the two SriLankan Airlines rooms, the airport run Lotus, Araliya and Executive lounges, the Emirates Lounge, and the pay per use Palm Strip. Nearly all of them run 24 hours to match the midnight arrival banks.
Which is the best lounge at Colombo airport?
With oneworld Sapphire or Emerald, the SriLankan Serenediva Lounge on level 2 is the quiet pick, and its free 15 minute Ayurvedic massage is a real bonus. Without status, the Lotus First Class Lounge is the dependable 24 hour Priority Pass choice, and the Palm Strip is the cash door from around 26 dollars.
Is there an Amex Centurion lounge at Colombo?
No. CMB has no Amex Centurion lounge. Cardholders use the Priority Pass and pay per use options instead, mainly the Lotus First Class Lounge on Priority Pass and the Palm Strip for walk in entry. Check your card's current lounge benefits before you rely on them.
Do the Colombo lounges have showers?
Yes, in several, including the SriLankan Serendib Lounge, which offers showers along with food and a business centre. The Serenediva Transit Hotel on level 2 also has shower facilities, available with a room or a recliner pass, which is useful if the lounges you can access are full.
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