Stuck 17 Hours at Colombo Airport on a Pakistani Passport: Flying SriLankan Airlines to Bangkok
Lahore to Colombo on SriLankan Airlines, a visa desk that didn't work the way we were told, 17 hours inside Colombo airport, a $100 room we didn't take, and finally Bangkok.
By Hafiz Tayyab · 16 October 2026 · 2 min read
The route
- LahoretoColomboSriLankan
- ColombotoColombo17 hours in the airport
- ColombotoBangkokSriLankan
The visa desk
What we were told on the phone wasn't what happened.
$100 room
For 6 hours. We chose the benches.
Suvarnabhumi at last
Strict but fair immigration in Bangkok.
In May 2024 my uncle, Chachu Waleed, and I set off for Thailand. The cheapest route was SriLankan Airlines from Lahore, via Colombo. It turned into one of the longest days of my travelling life.
Lahore to Colombo
We boarded early in the morning at Lahore Airport. The flight was good: a hot breakfast with chicken sausage and tea, and a live map showing us crossing the whole of India before landing at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
The visa problem
Before flying we had called and been told the visa would be no problem. We'd even arranged an e-visa from Pakistan. At Colombo, the visa desk didn't work the way we'd been told: the system was having problems and our visa came very late.
The result: 17 hours inside Colombo airport.
17 hours on a bench
- Rooms: the airport offered rest rooms, but at about $100 for 6 hours. We said no.
- Food: after 12 hours we finally got a meal. It was not good.
- Company: other Pakistani passport holders were stuck too, which made it a little easier.
Eventually we boarded the flight to Bangkok and landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where immigration was strict but fair.
On the way home: another long stop
We flew home from Kuala Lumpur to Colombo, again on SriLankan, and had another stop of about 14 hours before the flight back to Pakistan. At least this time we expected it.
What I'd do differently
- Get the transit rule in writing. A phone call isn't enough. Check the airline's website and IATA rules for your passport.
- Carry snacks and water. Airport food is expensive and slow.
- Bring a charger and a power bank. Seventeen hours is a long time.
- Compare total travel time, not just ticket price. A cheaper ticket with a 17-hour stop can cost you a whole day.
The full Thailand and Malaysia trip is here: Thailand and Malaysia from Pakistan. And every flight I've taken, with the stories, is in this post.
Watch the episodes
Flying to Sri Lanka from Pakistan! SriLankan Airlines Experience
8 Apr 2025
Stranded at Colombo Airport! 😡 #Pakistan #SriLanka #shorts
17 Apr 2025
$100 For A 6-Hour Hotel Room?! 😱 #SriLanka #Travel #shorts
18 Apr 2025
Pakistani Passport Holders Stranded at Colombo Airport #SriLanka #Travel #shorts
20 Apr 2025Questions people ask
Can Pakistanis transit through Colombo?
Hafiz Tayyab and his uncle flew Lahore to Bangkok via Colombo on SriLankan Airlines. Confirm the latest transit and visa rules with the airline before you fly; in their case the visa desk caused a long delay.
How long was the layover?
They were stuck in Colombo airport for about 17 hours. On the way home from Kuala Lumpur, the Colombo stop was about 14 hours.
Can you rent a room inside Colombo airport?
Yes, but they were quoted about $100 for 6 hours, so they stayed on the benches.
Keep reading
All guides
Khunjerab Pass: Pakistan–China Border at 4,693 m – Ticket, Yak Ride, ATM and Real Costs (2026 Guide)
Gulmit to the Pakistan–China border at 4,693 m: the Rs 500 Dih ticket, low oxygen, an ATM that didn't work, my first yak ride, Pak Army at zero point and a Rs 1,200 yak burger – with every price I paid.
Murree Pindi Point Chair Lift Through the Clouds: A Day Trip with Cousins from Faisalabad
A road trip from Faisalabad to Murree with cousins: the Pindi Point chair lift floating through the clouds, the climb at Bariyan, archery and an evening on Mall Road.
Every Flight I've Taken: 24 Flights on 11 Airlines from Pakistan, and What Went Wrong
From my first Saudia flight in 2022 to Gulf Air via Bahrain: every flight, the routes, and the stories, including a Wizz Air denied boarding, a missed flynas flight, 17 hours in Colombo and 3 days stuck in Sharjah.