LK Prefix and Three-Letter Location Code
Sri Lanka uses the country prefix LK. A complete UN/LOCODE combines LK with a three-character location identifier, such as LKCOL for Colombo or LKHBA for Hambantota.
Seaports in Sri Lanka: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026)
Sri Lanka has 18 ports and terminals indexed in the Ecer Freight database, with Colombo serving as the country’s principal container gateway on major Indian Ocean trade routes.
Explore Sri Lanka port codes, container gateways, regional cargo roles and indicative shipping connections.
Sri Lanka Port Overview
Sri Lanka is a strategically located transshipment and regional cargo hub between the major markets of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Indexed coverage and international throughput rankings are separate measures: the figures below distinguish Ecer Freight database coverage from publicly reported port activity.
18
Sri Lanka ports & terminals indexed in our database
Ecer Freight database · Nov 2026
8.29m
Colombo container throughput, 2025; approximately +6.6% YoY
SLPA 2025 operational reporting
—
National port cargo tonnage, 2025; consolidated YoY figure not verified
MOT 2025 statistics
—
National commercial berth total, 2025; consolidated YoY figure not verified
SLPA 2025 infrastructure data
How many seaports does Sri Lanka have?
Sri Lanka has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in its Nov 2026 database snapshot. This indexed coverage is not the same as a statutory count of every port facility.
What is Sri Lanka’s largest and busiest port?
Colombo, represented in the sample by LKCOL and LKCMB, is Sri Lanka’s principal container gateway and the country’s busiest port by publicly reported container throughput.
Which areas handle most of Sri Lanka’s seaborne freight?
The Western Province gateway around Colombo handles the dominant container flows, while Hambantota (LKHBA) supports automotive, bulk and project-related activity and Trincomalee (LKTRR) serves eastern regional and bulk-cargo roles.
Top Sri Lanka Ports by Container and Cargo Activity
The table separates international league-table data from Ecer Freight’s indexed port records. Colombo is the only sampled Sri Lanka gateway for which a comparable 2025 container figure is presented here; other rows remain unranked where a consistent public 2025 figure was not verified.
Selected Sri Lanka port records and indicative 2025 throughput data
| World rank | Port | UN-LOCODE | 2025 throughput (M TEU) | YoY change | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Colombo | LKCOL | 8.29 | +6.6% | Western Sri Lanka |
| — | Colombo | LKCMB | — | — | Western Sri Lanka |
| — | Hambantota | LKHBA | — | — | Southern Sri Lanka |
| — | Trincomalee | LKTRR | — | — | Eastern Sri Lanka |
| — | Galle | LKGAL | — | — | Southern Sri Lanka |
| — | Kankesanturai | LKKNK | — | — | Northern Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka Port Regions and Cargo Roles
Western Gateway
The western gateway is centered on Colombo and is the principal entry and exit point for Sri Lanka’s containerized international trade.
Ports in the Western Gateway
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo | LKCMB | Colombo / — | Container, feeder and general cargo gateway |
| Colombo | LKCOL | Colombo / — | Container transshipment and international cargo |
| Negombo | LKNEG | Negombo / — | Local, fishing and regional cargo activity |
| Kalutara | LKKAL | Kalutara / — | Coastal and regional cargo role |
Southern and Southeastern Coast
Southern ports provide access to Indian Ocean routes and support regional, bulk, vehicle and project-cargo movements, subject to terminal and service availability.
Ports on the Southern and Southeastern Coast
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hambantota | LKHBA | Hambantota / — | Vehicles, bulk, project cargo and regional shipping |
| Hambantota Port | LKHBT | Hambantota / — | Port facility record for automotive and project cargo |
| Galle | LKGAL | Galle / — | Regional, passenger and general cargo activity |
| Matara | LKMAT | Matara / — | Coastal and local maritime activity |
Eastern and Northern Coast
The eastern and northern coastline connects regional communities with coastal, bulk and local maritime activity. Commercial schedules and cargo handling conditions can vary by port.
Ports on the Eastern and Northern Coast
| Port | UN-LOCODE | City / Province | Main cargo role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trincomalee | LKTRR | Trincomalee / — | Bulk, energy-related and regional cargo |
| Trincomalee | LKTRI | Trincomalee / — | Port facility record for eastern maritime activity |
| Kankesanturai | LKKNK | Kankesanturai / — | Northern regional and coastal cargo |
| Jaffna | LKJAF | Jaffna / — | Local and northern regional maritime activity |
| Batticaloa | LKBAT | Batticaloa / — | Eastern regional and coastal cargo |
| Batticoloa | LKBTC | Batticoloa / — | Port facility record for eastern regional activity |
Sri Lanka Port Codes and UN/LOCODE Structure
UN/LOCODE records help freight teams identify maritime locations in bills of lading, booking systems, customs data and transport instructions. Records should be checked against the applicable carrier and port documentation.
City-Level and Facility-Level Records
A city-level record and a terminal or facility-level record may appear as separate entries. Colombo records such as LKCMB and LKCOL should therefore be matched to the exact booking, terminal and transport document.
How to Verify a Port Code
Compare the code with the current UN/LOCODE reference and the carrier’s booking instructions. The UNECE website provides the international reference framework, while Ecer Freight Port Codes provides searchable platform records.
Shipping from Sri Lanka: Main Trade Lanes
Sri Lanka’s location supports frequent connections to South Asian, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets. Transit times are indicative only and depend on vessel schedules, transshipment, seasonality, port operations and customs clearance.
Sri Lanka to India
Short-sea and feeder services connect Colombo with Indian gateways for containerized cargo, regional distribution and transshipment.
Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia
Colombo is commonly used as a transshipment and origin gateway for cargo moving between South Asia and Southeast Asian manufacturing centers.
Sri Lanka to the Middle East
Regular Indian Ocean services connect Sri Lankan export and import cargo with Gulf distribution hubs and Middle Eastern markets.
Sri Lanka to Europe
Europe-bound containers generally move through mainline or transshipment services calling at Colombo, with routing dependent on carrier networks.
Data Sources and Methodology
This page combines first-party indexed coverage with publicly available port and transport information. Throughput figures are not inferred from the number of indexed records, and indicative trade-lane timing is subject to carrier confirmation.
- Ecer Freight Ports Database — 18 Sri Lanka port and terminal records in the Nov 2026 database snapshot.
- Sri Lanka Ports Authority — port operations, Colombo container activity and infrastructure context.
- Sri Lanka Ministry of Transport — national transport and maritime-sector statistical context where available.
- Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka — official national statistical references and economic-sector context.
- UNECE — international UN/LOCODE framework and location-code reference context.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sri Lanka Seaports
How many seaports does Sri Lanka have?
Sri Lanka has 18 seaports and terminals indexed by Ecer Freight in the Nov 2026 database snapshot. This is an indexed coverage figure rather than a universal statutory count of all maritime facilities.
What is the main port in Sri Lanka?
Colombo is the main container and transshipment gateway in Sri Lanka. The Ecer Freight sample includes Colombo under LKCOL and LKCMB records.
What are the main cargo regions in Sri Lanka?
The Western Gateway around Colombo handles the largest container flows. Hambantota in the south and Trincomalee in the east provide important vehicle, bulk, energy-related and project-cargo roles.
What does the LK prefix mean in a Sri Lanka port code?
LK is the country prefix used in Sri Lanka UN/LOCODE records. It is followed by a three-character location identifier, such as LKCOL for Colombo or LKTRR for Trincomalee.
Are Sri Lanka port throughput figures the same as indexed port counts?
No. The 18 figure measures Ecer Freight database coverage. Throughput figures measure cargo or containers handled and are reported separately by port authorities or other official sources.
How current is the Sri Lanka port data?
The database snapshot is from Nov 2026, while the latest complete statistical year used where available is 2025. Operational schedules, port conditions and carrier transit times should be confirmed before booking.
How can a shipper request a Sri Lanka sea-freight quotation?
Shippers can compare available FCL and LCL options through the freight-rate pages, then confirm the exact origin, destination, commodity, equipment, sailing schedule and local charges before shipment.
Editorial note: This Sri Lanka port guide combines Ecer Freight’s indexed port records with official and institutional maritime sources. Database coverage is reviewed with periodic updates, while throughput, schedules, port services and transit times may change as new annual statistics and carrier information become available.
Ecer Freight · Seaports in Sri Lanka: Port Codes, Throughput & Regional Guide (2026) · Data reviewed quarterly · Port Codes · Ports by Country · Contact