AllergyPassBandaranaike International Airport
with Food Allergies
You land at CMB and need to decide whether to eat, find medication, seek medical help, or continue into Colombo. Here is what to check in the terminal and how to compare your onward options.
CMB, Colombo
Eating at CMB before you get into Colombo
CMB has chain restaurants, coffee counters, bakery items, duty-free shops, and packaged snacks. Brands, recipes, and opening hours can change, so check the current terminal selection rather than assuming a familiar chain uses the same preparation process as it does at home.
Local bakery and pastry counters need the same questions as restaurants. Coconut, dairy, wheat, egg, and Maldive fish may appear in short eats, fillings, doughs, or seasoning. Ask whether the item is made on shared trays or equipment and whether staff can check the recipe. The Allergy Risk Checker can help you prepare questions, but it cannot verify a terminal's current recipe.
Packaged snacks may give you a clearer label than a busy counter, but check the individual package and any precautionary statement. If you are tired or rushed after a long flight, use food you brought or a product you can actually check rather than guessing at a counter.
Pharmacy and medical access at CMB
The airport's current service directory lists a medical facility and pharmacy services. Check the official airport pharmacy listing for the latest location and access details. Do not plan to replace your prescribed epinephrine auto-injector there; stock, product formats, and prescription rules can change.
Bring the medication prescribed for you, keep it accessible during travel, and ask your clinician or pharmacist how it should be stored and carried. A pharmacy is not a substitute for an ambulance or emergency department during a severe reaction.
If you need urgent medical help at CMB
For a serious reaction, do not spend time searching for a pharmacy or driving to a named hospital. Follow your emergency plan and call 1990 for an ambulance. Tell airport staff or the dispatcher that this is a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis and give your terminal, gate or nearby landmark, and a callback number.
If you are travelling with someone, ask them to stay with your medication and travel documents while you receive care. Contact your insurer after urgent care is under way, not instead of calling emergency services.
Getting from CMB into Colombo
A taxi or app-based ride via the Katunayake Expressway provides door-to-door travel, but traffic and the final destination can change the journey. Compare the current fare, pickup rules, luggage, arrival time, and accommodation address. Use the airport's official transport information rather than relying on a fixed time or fare.
The airport also lists a 187 Airport–Colombo Fort bus service. A train connection may involve a separate transfer and a timetable that does not suit your arrival. Check the current service, luggage, accessibility, and the final address before choosing between bus, train, and taxi.
Exploring beyond Colombo? Compare self-drive rentals with pickup right at the CMB terminal.
Compare car hire at CMBStoring your luggage if you have a long layover
If you land with hours to spare, or you'd rather eat somewhere vetted in Colombo without hauling bags through a food court, dropping your luggage at a storage point near the airport is the simplest way to buy yourself that time.
Build your Sinhala allergy card before you leave the terminal
Everything above is preparation. A Sinhala allergy card can give a restaurant or medical team a written starting point for coconut, Maldive fish, mustard seed, and your other specific allergens. Build it before departure, while you have time to check the wording and your prescribed medication list.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I have a severe reaction at CMB?
Follow your prescribed emergency plan. If you have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector and your plan calls for it during a severe reaction, use it, then call 1990 for an ambulance. Tell airport staff or the dispatcher that this is a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis and give your terminal and exact location.
Can I rely on buying allergy medication at CMB?
No. The airport lists a pharmacy and medical facilities, but stock, access, and opening details can change, and the prescribed product you need may not be available. Bring your own prescribed medication, keep it accessible, and use 1990 for a serious reaction rather than searching for a pharmacy.
What should I compare for getting from CMB into Colombo?
Compare a taxi or app-based ride with the airport's 187 Airport–Colombo Fort bus service and any available train connection. Check the current route, traffic, luggage, arrival time, and your accommodation address. If you are unwell, ask airport staff or emergency services about the appropriate transport instead of continuing into Colombo.