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Mattala Airport (HRI) Transfers — the South Coast's Quiet Gateway
Mattala Rajapaksa International serves the deep south when CMB is closed or when your flight is routed there — and from HRI, Galle, Tangalle and Mirissa are dramatically closer than from Colombo. Fixed-price private transfers from a $18 base fare, meet-and-greet included.
Updated September 2026 · prices verified against our live booking system.
Key takeaways
- HRI's superpower: the deep south is far closer from Mattala — Galle ~110 km (1.5–2 h) vs 3+ hrs from Colombo.
- Fixed all-in prices benchmarked to the official airport tariff class-for-class, meet-and-greet and flight tracking as at CMB.
- If your flight diverts to CMB, we re-route the booking at CMB pricing — no penalty.
- Tangalle ~80 km, Mirissa ~100 km, Ella ~150 km — the south-coast cheat code.
Where HRI puts you
| From HRI | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tangalle | ~80 km | ~1.5 h |
| Matara | ~95 km | ~1.5 h |
| Galle | ~110 km | 1.5–2 h |
| Mirissa | ~100 km | ~1.5 h |
| Hambantota town & lagoons | ~15 km | 20 min |
| Ella (via Wellawaya) | ~150 km | ~3.5 h |
Compare that to arriving at CMB and driving 3–4 hours south — when your itinerary ends on the south coast, an HRI arrival (or departure) is the cheat code.
What's included on every HRI transfer
- Name-board meet-and-greet in the (very calm) HRI arrivals hall.
- Flight tracking with 60 minutes free waiting from actual landing.
- Fixed price with VAT, taxes and tolls included — shown before you pay.
- English-speaking chauffeur, bottled water, chargers; child seats $5.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours; voucher with driver details 6 hours before.
Good to know about HRI
Mattala is a small airport with limited flight schedules — most travellers reach it via Colombo connections or charters. We monitor your inbound flight either way; if it diverts to CMB, your south-coast transfer re-quotes at the CMB price and the car moves with you.
FAQ
Is Mattala airport open for international flights?
HRI handles scheduled and charter traffic intermittently — check your airline. When your ticket says HRI, we drive it; when flights divert to CMB, we re-route your booking at no penalty.
How far is Galle from Mattala Airport?
About 110 km, 1.5–2 hours via the southern expressway — much closer than from Colombo (3+ hours).
Do you meet flights at HRI?
Yes — name board in arrivals, flight tracking, 60 minutes free waiting from landing, same as at CMB.
Sources & method
Official airport taxi rates: airport.lk — AASL published tariff (air-conditioned sedan class). USD conversions: live interbank rate LKR 328.26 = $1 (open.er-api.com, 11 Sep 2026), re-checked monthly. LankaWayFinder prices include VAT, taxes, tolls and expressway fees; child seat $5, booster $5, extra stop $10. Drive times are typical expressway routings and vary with traffic.
About this guide: written by the LankaWayFinder operations team — LANKAWAYFINDER (PVT) LTD (reg. PV 00332800), based at Katunayake, minutes from CMB. Our chauffeurs drive these roads daily, and prices are benchmarked monthly against the official airport tariff. Questions: +94 77 405 2202 (WhatsApp) · About us
Popular transfers: Colombo · Negombo · Kandy · Sigiriya · Galle · Ella — all CMB routes →