Roads in Colombo to be closed due to the Indian Defense Minister's visit

The Colombo Traffic Division has taken steps to implement a special traffic plan in Colombo city and its surrounding main roads, coinciding with the official visit of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Sri Lanka. During this visit, which will take place from September 08 to 10, 2026, traffic movement will be restricted as appropriate on the routes used by the VIP motorcade.

On September 08, the first day of the visit, the VIP is scheduled to travel from Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake at 1:30 PM to the Taj Samudra Hotel via the Colombo Expressway, Port premises, and NSA Roundabout. On the same day, from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, roads will be restricted from the hotel to Indian House via Galle Face Roundabout, Kollupitiya Junction, Liberty Roundabout, Piththala Junction, Red Cross Junction, Library Roundabout, Glass House, Nanda Motors, and Independence Roundabout. On the return journey, traffic will be controlled via JOC Junction, Flower Road, Liberty Roundabout, and Michael Junction.

On September 09, from 9:50 AM to 11:25 AM, travel to and from the Presidential Secretariat via Galle Main Road is scheduled. At 2:00 PM, to visit the Indian Peacekeeping Force Monument located at Ape Gama premises in Battaramulla, Galle Road, Dharmapala Mawatha, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Nelum Pokuna Roundabout, Horton Place, D.S. Junction, and Sri Jayawardenepura Mawatha will be used.

Subsequently, from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM, the VIP motorcade is scheduled to reach the Ministry of Defense via Japan Friendship Road, Maga Neguma Junction, and Akurugoda Roundabout. From 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM, it will proceed to the Parliament Complex via Jayanthipura Junction. From 4:35 PM to 5:00 PM, it will arrive at Gangaramaya Temple via Polduwa, Buthgamuwa, Welikada, D.S. Senanayake Junction, and Jinarathana Mawatha. Arrangements have been made for the return journey to the Taj Samudra Hotel at 5:30 PM via Perahera Mawatha and Galle Face Roundabout.

Furthermore, traffic restrictions will be imposed on September 09 at 7:00 PM and on September 10 at 9:00 AM for the Nuwara Eliya visit, from Taj Samudra Hotel to the Helipad at the Port premises, via Galle Face Centre Road, Baladaksha Mawatha, and NSA Roundabout. The Police Media Division requests the public and drivers to use alternative routes to minimize potential traffic congestion during these periods.