Largest Cities in Sri Lanka

Top 72 cities ranked by largest cities

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · Sri Lanka

Largest Cities — Sri Lanka

1 Colombo 36 648,034

2 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 36 219,827

3 Maharagama 36 195,355

4 Jaffna 38 169,102

5 Moratuwa 36 168,280

6 Negombo 36 137,223

7 Pita Kotte 36 118,179

8 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte 36 115,826

9 Kandy 29 111,701

10 Trincomalee 37 108,420

11 Kalmunai 37 100,171

12 Galle 34 93,118

13 Point Pedro 38 89,810

14 Batticaloa 37 86,742

15 Katunayaka 36 84,643

16 Ambalantota 34 80,506

17 Valvedditturai 38 78,205

18 Matara 34 76,254

19 Battaramulla South 36 75,633

20 Dambulla 29 66,716

21 Kolonnawa 36 64,887

22 Kotikawatta 36 64,565

23 Anuradhapura 30 60,943

24 Vavuniya 38 60,176

25 Beliatta 34 58,675

26 Hendala 36 56,978

27 Ambalangoda 34 56,783

28 Ratnapura 33 47,832

29 Badulla 35 47,587

30 Pottuvil 37 45,727

31 Puttalam 32 45,661

32 Devinuwara 34 45,000

33 Ampara 37 43,720

34 Welisara 36 41,306

35 Kalutara 36 37,081

36 Bentota 34 37,000

37 Matale 29 36,462

38 Mannar 38 35,817

39 Homagama 36 34,664

40 Beruwala 36 34,250

41 Panadura 36 33,735

42 Mulleriyawa 36 33,540

43 Kandana 36 33,424

44 Ja Ela 36 32,175

45 Wattala 36 30,725

46 Mullaittivu 38 28,973

47 Kelaniya 36 28,846

48 Peliyagoda 36 28,784

49 Kurunegala 32 28,571

50 Nuwara Eliya 29 27,500

51 Chilaw 32 24,712

52 Gampola 29 24,283

53 Eravur Town 37 22,982

54 Hanwella Ihala 36 22,918

55 Weligama 34 22,179

56 Vakarai 37 21,000

57 Kataragama 35 20,935

58 Hambantota 34 19,999

59 Kegalle 33 17,962

60 Hatton 29 15,073

61 Polonnaruwa 30 13,900

62 Kilinochchi 38 13,006

63 Tangalle 34 10,497

64 Monaragala 35 10,236

65 Wellawaya 35 10,000

66 Gampaha 36 9,350

67 Horana South 36 8,982

68 Keppapularu 38 8,361

69 Wattegama 35 8,000

70 Minuwangoda 36 7,772

71 Horawala Junction 36 7,500

72 Kuliyapitiya 32 6,877

The largest cities in Sri Lanka represent major centers of economic activity, cultural influence, and population growth. Colombo leads with a population of 648,034, followed by Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Maharagama. These cities serve as hubs for employment, education, and innovation, attracting residents from across the country and around the world.

Population size is a key indicator of a city's economic influence and infrastructure capacity. Larger cities typically offer more diverse job markets, extensive public transit systems, and a wider range of cultural amenities. 36 dominates the top 10 with 7 cities on the list, reflecting the state's strong economic pull and quality of life.

While large populations bring economic advantages, they also present challenges including higher costs of living, traffic congestion, and housing affordability concerns. Many of these cities have experienced significant growth over the past decade, driven by job opportunities in technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Did You Know?

1. Colombo's population is larger than that of many small nations.
2. 36 has 7 cities in the top 10, more than any other state.
3. The 50th largest city still has a population of 27,500 — larger than most cities worldwide.
4. The top 5 cities combined have a population of 1,400,598.

Browse Rankings by Region

Sri Lanka — By Region

Central Province Eastern Province Northern Province Southern Province Uva Province Western Province

By Country

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Republic of the Congo Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Netherlands Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe