Sri Lanka's First Passenger eVTOL Flights: Ministers Fly EHang's Pilotless EH216-S in Colombo
eVTOL.Travel Editorial
Photo: EH216-S conducts Sri Lanka's first human-carrying eVTOL flight in Colombo. Image: EHang, from its press release.
On November 11, 2026, EHang's two-seat, pilotless EH216-S carried people in Sri Lanka for the first time. Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka and Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku were among the first to fly, on a scenic coastal loop at Colombo Port City. EHang says these were also the first human-carrying flights by one of its pilotless aircraft in South Asia.
We covered the run-up two days ago: Sri Lanka tests EHang passenger drones in Colombo. Here is what actually happened.
What we know
| Date | November 11, 2026 |
| Where | Colombo Port City, coastal loop route |
| Aircraft | EHang EH216-S, two seats, battery powered, no pilot on board |
| First passengers | Minister Anura Karunathilaka, Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, then Ministry Secretary W. W. S. Mangala |
| Next step | A flight validation phase with regulators (reported as about six months) |
| Commercial flights | Targeted after the trial, according to the Deputy Minister. No date, route list or prices yet |
What they said
The minister told local media it "felt like I was flying", as reported by Aviation Voice. In EHang's release he said he was impressed by the technology. Sri Lanka's Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, said the technology "calls for new approaches to regulation and oversight".
What happens next
EHang says the programme now moves into flight validation: test flights and operational checks with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, to support future approvals. Local reports say the trial is expected to run for about six months at Colombo Port City, with commercial passenger flights targeted after that. Sri Lanka is the 24th country where the EH216 series has flown, according to EHang.
Can tourists fly yet?
Not yet. These were official demonstration flights. There are no public tickets, prices or published rules for paying passengers in Sri Lanka so far. We will update this page when that changes.
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Sources: EHang press release via GlobeNewswire, Nov 12, 2026 · Aviation Voice, Nov 11, 2026 · The China-Global South Project, Nov 11, 2026
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Sources: Information sourced from official company announcements, FAA publications, SEC filings, and verified industry reports. For corrections, contact us.
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eVTOL.Travel Editorial
Contributor at eVTOL.Travel — covering electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, vertiports, and the launch of urban air mobility worldwide.
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