Here are top picks for convenient short stays in Colombo, organized by use-case (transit / airport, city-centre quick stays, budget/day‑use). Short notes include why each is convenient — check the hotel website or your booking site for current day‑use / early‑check‑in options and prices.

Airport / transit (best if you need a very short stop or overnight close to Bandaranaike Intl. Airport)

• Serenediva Transit Hotel (inside Bandaranaike Airport) — true airside transit hotel for short layovers without clearing immigration; ideal for a few hours’ rest. (airport.lk)
• Ramada by Wyndham Katunayake (near the airport) — hotel shuttle on request and short drive to CMB; good for an easy overnight before/after a flight. (expedia.com)
• Jetwing Blue / Goldi Sands (Negombo beach hotels) — 15–25 min drive from the airport, comfortable full‑service options if you prefer a seaside stay close to CMB. (jetwinghotels.com)

City‑centre / business district (best for short business or sightseeing stops in Colombo)

• Cinnamon Red Colombo — compact, modern “lean luxury” city hotel with rooftop pool; central location (easy access to shopping/business areas). Good for short urban stays. (cinnamonhotels.com)
• NH Collection Colombo (formerly Mövenpick) — upscale, centrally located with rooftop pool and fast access to Galle Road / business district. Good for short comfort stays. (nh-collection.com)
• Hilton Colombo — in the CBD/World Trade Centre area; reliable business‑hotel services and quick access to Fort/Dutch Hospital precinct. (hilton.com)
• The Kingsbury / Taj Samudra — seafront hotels facing Galle Face Green; convenient if you want short walks along the oceanfront and quick access to central attractions. (thekingsburyhotel.com)

Budget / short day‑use friendly options (smaller hotels and popular day‑use picks)

• Renuka City Hotel (Kollupitiya/Galle Road) — centrally located, pool and straightforward rooms for short stays. (renukacityhotel.com)
• The Ocean Colombo (Marine Drive) — sea‑view rooms and commonly used by travellers for short stays / day rooms. (theoceancolombo.com)
• ME Colombo — boutique option with rooftop pool, conveniently placed for short city visits. (me.hotels-colombo.com)

Quick tips for short stays

• If you need a daytime room only, ask the hotel about “day‑use” or an early check‑in / late check‑out fee — some hotels list day‑use on their site or via day‑use booking platforms. (Transit hotels like Serenediva are the simplest if you must stay airside.) (airport.lk)
• Allow extra time for Colombo traffic — airport ↔ city travel times vary widely by time of day. For airport‑adjacent stays pick Katunayake/Negombo hotels; for business/shops pick Fort/Kollupitiya hotels listed above. (jetwinghotels.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this to a specific neighbourhood (e.g., Fort/Galle Face, Kollupitiya, Katunayake/Negombo),
• Show typical travel times from Bandaranaike Airport to 2–3 hotels you pick, or
• Find hotels that explicitly advertise day‑use rooms for a specific date/time.