Here are top semi‑luxury (value/upscale) hotels close to Colombo’s main airport — Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake — with quick notes on distance/time, style and why they’re good for an overnight/layover or short stay:

Important: “Colombo Airport” = Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at Katunayake. (colombo-airport.com)

1. Sentido Heritance Negombo — beachfront, upscale choice; ~10–13 km / ~15–25 minutes to CMB. Beachfront rooms, full spa, multiple restaurants — good for arrivals/departures when you want comfort and a seaside stay. (heritancehotels.com)

2. Jetwing Blue (Negombo) — modern, reliable 4★/upscale property; ~11–13 km / ~15–25 minutes to CMB. Beach access, pools, multiple dining options — strong value for quality. (jetwingeco.com)

3. Jetwing Lagoon (Thalhena / Negombo) — wellness/resort style on a lagoon strip; ~15–18 km / ~20–35 minutes to CMB. Quiet, scenic setting with wellness facilities — good if you prefer a tranquil resort near the airport. (jetwinghotels.com)

4. Jetwing Sea (Negombo) — contemporary beachfront hotel; ~11–14 km / ~15–25 minutes to CMB. Beachfront pools and spa — convenient for short stays with seaside access. (jetwinghotels.com)

5. Goldi Sands Hotel (Negombo) — longstanding beach property with good value; ~11–14 km / ~15–25 minutes to CMB. Beachfront, pool, family‑friendly facilities — practical and popular for transit stays. (goldisands.hotelsnegombo.com)

6. Camelot Beach Hotel (Negombo) — mid‑upscale beachfront option; ~10–12 km / ~15–25 minutes to CMB. Garden setting, pool and easy town access — solid value near the beach. (camelotbeach.hotelsnegombo.com)

7. Regal Réseau Hotel & Spa (Negombo) — 4★ city/coast hotel; ~10–12 km / ~20–30 minutes to CMB. Central location in Negombo, spa and good restaurants — convenient if you want quick town access. (us.trip.com)

8. Limeshine — Airport Transit Hotel (Katunayake / Seeduwa) — closest practical transit hotel; ~2–5 km / ~5–12 minutes to CMB. Designed for quick overnight/layover stays; airport shuttle and very short transfer times. Good if you need to be extremely close to the terminal. (booking.com)

Notes:

• Distances/times above are approximate and depend on traffic and route (Katunayake Expressway is the quickest route into Colombo/Negombo). For late arrivals or very early departures, transit hotels like Limeshine (or other airport transit properties) minimize transfer stress. (colombo-airport.com)
• “Semi‑luxury” covers higher‑end 3★/4★ and value 5★ properties — I included both reliable 4★ options and a few upscale resorts that offer good value near the airport.
• If you’d like, I can: (a) filter by exact price range or star rating, (b) show real‑time availability/rates for specific dates, or (c) recommend the best pick depending on whether you want proximity