Main Terminal, Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka

Introduction

This is my review of the Serendiva Lounge at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike Airport, by Srilankan Airlines.

The Lounge is connected to the Serendiva Transit Hotel, which I’ve reviewed separately.

In absolute fairness, this is a somewhat down-market version of the Serendib Lounge, also in the Main Terminal. What the difference is, I can’t quite work out!

Visited

23^rd October 2022 at 21:00

Opening Hours

The lounge is open 24 hours a day, however with the food and drinks a little sparse – it’s hard to know what the lounge would be like at 4am, for example.

Entry Conditions

This lounge is open to passengers traveling in First Class, Business Class – or to OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald Members.

However, the Serendiva Lounge is also open to First Class or Business Class passengers – but possibly not those with ‘status’ not traveling in premium cabins…….I think!

Another factor about entry is that I was asked to hand over my Lounge Invitation card in this lounge, and then asked for an invitation again at Serendib – so it seems they’re not too keen on lounge-hopping!

How to Get There

Assuming you’re through security, or have just landed;

Go towards in-bound immigration, and you’ll need to stay as left as you can get, next to the glass.

You’ll see, just before a “Staff Only” sign, two elevators.

Go up a level, and follow the corridor past the Emirates lounge, and the entrance will be in front of you.

Layout

Hmmmm……..

As you walk in you’ll see some lounge seating.

There are two relatively large dining tables.

There is a small bar.

There is a sort of work station with a computer and printer.

That’s it………it’s very small!

Food and Drink

Hmmmm…….. I’ll qualify this by saying that décor aside, there is a civil war going on in Sri Lanka right now. Whether this impacts on the F&B quality of this lounge, I don’t know. But it was primitive.  

On the drinks side, there is a small bar – which is self-service. There were a few bottles of wine kicking around, some fridges with beers and soft drinks……and not a lot else. I’d also noted that the ice in the ice buckets had melted – so there was no cold wine.

That said, they were offering (warm) Piper champagne!

Sadly, the food side wasn’t a whole lot better. A minority of hot dishes, some cheese, some fruit – it’s snackworthy, in absolute fairness.

Wifi

Unfortunately, the Wifi I really struggled with. Everything was being rejected by the airport’s firewall, including Google Drive, DropBox, and even the paper! This is one thing that seriously needs improvement, as it’s simply impossible to work in this lounge, or even communicate. I found the same in the Serendib, so it must be an airport issue.  

Showers

There is what is referred to as a shower room. I didn’t dare go in there – and I don’t know if they charge for access.

But, in principle, there are showers.

Conclusion

This lounge is somewhat………well……..hmmm…….

But if I remind myself of the context of the lounge; war torn country; ongoing civil war; chronic shortage of key supplies; very small airport; very small airline – it’s probably the best it can be, considering.

If, however, you’ve previously visited the Concorde Room at Heathrow, or Qantas First Lounge in Singapore – this as OneWorld Emerald lounge will come as a shock!