Smoking at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport – HRI

HRI ✓ Verified Aug 2026
By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

Yes, you can smoke at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI) — in the open air outside the terminal building, landside. Sri Lanka’s tobacco law covers enclosed public places, so open-air smoking is permitted; the airport’s own passenger-facilities page publishes no indoor or airside smoking room, and no facility after security is confirmed.

HRI, near Hambantota in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, is a low-traffic airport serving a single terminal, with only a small number of scheduled and charter flights.

Terminal and Airside

The airport’s own passenger-facilities page — which covers the information desk, dining, banking, a prayer room, medical centre and duty-free shops in some detail — publishes no smoking room, and no facility after security is confirmed. Sri Lanka’s National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act covers enclosed public places, so the terminal interior is treated as smoke-free.

Transit Lounge

The airport’s own passenger-facilities page lists one paid lounge in the transit area, which includes shower facilities; its listed amenities do not include a smoking room.

Landside (Outdoor)

Open-air smoking outside the terminal building, landside, is permitted under Sri Lanka’s tobacco law, which covers enclosed public places rather than the open air. The airport publishes no marked or designated smoking spot.

Vaping

Sri Lanka’s Prohibited Tobacco Products Regulations ban the import and sale of e-cigarettes since 2016, so travel without vaping gear; the airport has no smoking or vaping facility of its own beyond the open-air landside option.

Summary

AreaSmokingNotes
Terminal and gatesNoNot on the airport’s own facilities page
After security / transitNoNo facility after security confirmed; lounge amenities omit it too
Outdoor (landside)YesOpen-air smoking permitted; no designated area
Vaping / e-cigarettesNo dedicated areaImport and sale banned nationwide since 2016

For Sri Lanka’s airport smoking rules and the e-cigarette import ban, see our Sri Lanka smoking guide.

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport — Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (official)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there smoking areas at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport (HRI)?

Yes — open-air smoking outside the terminal building, landside, is permitted; Sri Lanka’s tobacco law covers enclosed public places, not the open air. The airport’s own passenger-facilities page publishes no indoor or airside smoking room, and no facility after security is confirmed.

Can I smoke inside the terminal at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport?

The terminal interior is smoke-free — the airport’s own passenger-facilities page, which itemises the information desk, dining, banking, a prayer room, medical centre and duty-free shops, publishes no smoking room. Open-air smoking is permitted outside, landside.

Does the transit lounge at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport have a smoking room?

The airport’s own passenger-facilities page lists one paid lounge in the transit area, which includes shower facilities; its listed amenities do not include a smoking room.

Where can I smoke at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport?

In the open air outside the terminal building, landside. No indoor, airside or lounge smoking facility is published anywhere on site.

Can you vape at Mattala Rajapaksa Airport?

Sri Lanka has banned the import and sale of e-cigarettes since 2016, so travel without vaping gear. The airport has no smoking or vaping facility of its own beyond the open-air landside option.