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 New York.
When it's 8:00 am in Colombo, it's 10:30 pm in New York — night there, the previous day.
When it's 10:00 am in Colombo, it's 12:30 am in New York — late night there, the same day.
When it's 12:00 pm in Colombo, it's 2:30 am in New York — late night there, the same day.
When it's 3:00 pm in Colombo, it's 5:30 am in New York — morning there, the same day.
When it's 5:00 pm in Colombo, it's 7:30 am in New York — morning there, the same day.
When it's 9:00 pm in Colombo, it's 11:30 am in New York — late morning there, the same day.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: Colombo uses the LKR (Rs රු) and New York uses the USD ($). Language shifts too — Sinhala in Colombo, English in New York. Be careful behind the wheel: Colombo drives on the left, New York 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
- United States
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD · $)
- Language
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between Colombo and New York?
Colombo is 9.5 hours behind New York. Colombo runs on GMT+5:30 and New York on GMT-4. 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 New York?
10:00 am in Colombo is 12:30 am in New York 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 New York?
3:00 pm in Colombo is 5:30 am in New York on the same day — 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?
Standard 09:00–17:00 workdays don't intersect. Most teams compromise with one side meeting early (before 09:00) or late (after 17:00).
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 New York?
About 14,082 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 17h 4m, 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 New York use?
Colombo uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs රු); New York uses the United States dollar (USD, $). 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 New York?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 011), 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 New York?
Colombo primarily speaks Sinhala, Tamil; New York speaks English. English is widely used in business contexts in major cities of both, but written contracts may need translation.
Do Colombo and New York drive on the same side of the road?
No. Sri Lanka drives on the left, United States 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.