Motorists in central Colombo should expect congestion this Saturday morning as a vehicle parade opens the Derana-Signal Colombo International Kite Festival 2026, the Police Media Division has said.
The festival runs Saturday (8) and Sunday (9) at Galle Face Green. The opening parade begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and will travel a long loop through the city centre — starting at the Galle Face Roundabout and passing Kollupitiya Junction, Dharmapala Mawatha, Liberty Roundabout, R.A. De Mel Mawatha, Bambalapitiya Junction, Thummulla, Thurstan Road, Horton Place, De Soysa Roundabout, D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha and Lotus Road before ending at Port City.
Police have asked drivers and members of the public to avoid those roads during the parade and use alternative routes, warning that congestion is expected along the corridor. Traffic officers will be deployed to direct vehicles and assist the public.
The main public event — the kite festival and an accompanying musical concert — takes place on Sunday. Approximately 1,000 police officers will be on duty, comprising 300 traffic officers and 700 other personnel, to manage crowds and keep traffic moving.
Designated free parking for Sunday includes the MOD Grounds car park, the concrete car park near Shangri-La, Chaithya Road, York Street between Chatham Street Junction and the Old Police Headquarters, Leyden Bastion Road, Lower Lotus Road, Duke Street, Bristol Street, Baron Jayathilaka Mawatha, Parsons Road, the Port City premises, Sea Road and both sides of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha (Green Path).
Paid parking is available at the Access Tower car park on Union Place, the private car park near Gamini Roundabout, the lower ground car park opposite Lake House, Chamas car park and the Old Manning Market car park.
