Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
If it's this in Colombo, it's that in Abidjan.
When it's 8:00 am in Colombo, it's 2:30 am in Abidjan — late night there, the same day.
When it's 10:00 am in Colombo, it's 4:30 am in Abidjan — late night there, the same day.
When it's 12:00 pm in Colombo, it's 6:30 am in Abidjan — morning there, the same day.
When it's 3:00 pm in Colombo, it's 9:30 am in Abidjan — late morning there, the same day.
When it's 5:00 pm in Colombo, it's 11:30 am in Abidjan — late morning there, the same day.
When it's 9:00 pm in Colombo, it's 3:30 pm in Abidjan — afternoon there, the same day.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: Colombo uses the LKR (Rs රු) and Abidjan uses the XOF (Fr). Language shifts too — Sinhala in Colombo, French in Abidjan. Be careful behind the wheel: Colombo drives on the left, Abidjan on the right.
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Capital
- Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR · Rs රු)
- Language
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Calling code
- +94
- Drives on
- Left
- Country
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Capital
- Yamoussoukro
- Currency
- West African CFA franc (XOF · Fr)
- Language
- French
- Calling code
- +225
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between Colombo and Abidjan?
Colombo is 5.5 hours behind Abidjan. Colombo runs on GMT+5:30 and Abidjan on GMT+0. The gap can shift by an hour when either side enters or leaves daylight saving — the live clocks above always reflect the current offset.
When it's 10 am in Colombo, what time is it in Abidjan?
10:00 am in Colombo is 4:30 am in Abidjan on the same day — late night there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When it's 3 pm in Colombo, what time is it in Abidjan?
3:00 pm in Colombo is 9:30 am in Abidjan on the same day — late morning there. The same shift applies to any hour; the quick-conversion cards and the 24-hour table above cover the full day.
When's the best time to schedule a meeting?
There are 2 hours where both cities are inside a 09:00–17:00 workday. Aim for the middle of that window so neither side is starting or closing out.
Does daylight saving time change the difference?
Yes, if either city observes DST. When one side shifts and the other doesn't, the gap changes by one hour. The DST badges under each clock show whether each zone is currently shifted and when the next transition lands.
How far is Colombo from Abidjan?
About 9,262 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 11h 24m, not counting airport time, winds, or routing around restricted airspace.
Can I send this meeting time as a calendar invite?
Yes. Pick a time on the slider above, open the meeting card, customize the title and duration, then download the .ics file. It imports cleanly into Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar with the correct timezone attached.
What currency do Colombo and Abidjan use?
Colombo uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs රු); Abidjan uses the West African CFA franc (XOF, Fr). Check the live rate before transferring money or paying with a card abroad — most banks add a 1–3 % FX margin on top of the mid-market rate.
How do I call Colombo from Abidjan?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 00), then +94, then the local number — drop any leading zero of the city or mobile code. For free calls, WhatsApp, Signal, and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi regardless of country code.
What language is spoken in Colombo and Abidjan?
Colombo primarily speaks Sinhala, Tamil; Abidjan speaks French. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do Colombo and Abidjan drive on the same side of the road?
No. Sri Lanka drives on the left, Côte d'Ivoire on the right. If you're renting, expect a learning curve on the first day — especially at roundabouts and when judging the centre of the lane.