Accra to Colombo
+5h 30mAccra
GMTSOURCEColombo
ISTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
GMT and IST on the World Map
The map below highlights the GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and IST (India Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
GMT – Greenwich Mean Time
UTC+00:00Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is the same as UTC+00:00.
- •GMT is based on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passing through Greenwich, London.
- •The Royal Observatory in Greenwich has been the reference point for GMT since 1884.
- •GMT and UTC are often used interchangeably, but UTC is based on atomic clocks.
- •Iceland uses GMT year-round and never observes daylight saving time.
- •The UK switches from GMT to BST (British Summer Time) in late March each year.
IST – India Standard Time
UTC+05:30India Standard Time (IST) is the time zone for India and Sri Lanka, 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC.
- •India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of EST and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.
- •India uses a single time zone despite spanning 30° of longitude.
- •IST is one of only a handful of time zones with a 30-minute offset.
- •IST is the most populous single time zone in the world with over 1.4 billion people.
- •The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) operate on IST.
About Colombo
WikipediaColombo operates on Sri Lanka Time (SLST), UTC+5:30. Sharing India's timezone, Colombo is a key South Asian trade and tourism hub.
Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST) uses UTC+5:30, same offset as India.
Accra to Colombo Time Difference – Complete Guide
Accra runs on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) at UTC+00:00. Colombo runs on India Standard Time (IST) at UTC+05:30. That puts Accra 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Colombo — a difference of +5h 30m at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in Accra it is 2:30 PM in Colombo. Midnight in Accra is 5:30 AM in Colombo. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
Accra to Colombo time conversion table
| Accra (GMT) | Colombo (IST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:30 AM | same day |
| 6:00 AM | 11:30 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 12:30 PM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 1:30 PM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 2:30 PM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 5:30 PM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 8:30 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 10:30 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 11:30 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 2:30 AM | next day |
Why people convert Accra to Colombo time
- Scheduling a call from Accra to Colombo: a 10:00 AM start in Accra lands at 3:30 PM in Colombo, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both Accra and Colombo are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM GMT time (2:30 PM–5:00 PM IST). That is roughly 2 hours 30 minutes of usable overlap.
- Watching a live event or market open: Accra viewers need 2:30 PM in Colombo to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 6:30 PM if the event is anchored to Accra.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM GMT" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +5h 30m gap is not.
- Block 9:00 AM–11:30 AM GMT as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from Accra and need Colombo colleagues present.
About GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the clock time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, which sits on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude). GMT serves as the reference point from which all other time zones are calculated. The United Kingdom uses GMT during winter months and switches to British Summer Time (BST, UTC+01:00) from late March to late October. Several West African nations use GMT year-round. GMT is often used interchangeably with UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), although technically they are different – UTC is based on atomic clocks while GMT is based on Earth's rotation.
About IST (India Standard Time)
India Standard Time (IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka. It is based on the 82.5°E meridian, passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. India uses a single time zone despite spanning roughly 30° of longitude, which has been debated. IST does not observe daylight saving time. India is the world's most populous country, making IST one of the most-used time zones globally. The IT outsourcing industry and call centers operate primarily on IST, making the EST-to-IST conversion one of the most searched timezone conversions.
Best time to call between Accra and Colombo
Both Accra and Colombo sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–11:30 AM GMT, which is 2:30 PM–5:00 PM IST. That gives roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
Accra and Colombo overlap for about 2 hours during the working day — enough for meetings if you avoid the edges of the window.
Accra is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Colombo (GMT UTC+00:00 → IST UTC+05:30). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–11:30 AM GMT. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
Learn More About Time
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Accra and Colombo?
Accra (GMT, UTC+00:00) is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Colombo (IST, UTC+05:30). The gap is currently +5h 30m.
How do I convert Accra time to Colombo time?
Add +5h 30m to Accra local time. For example, 9:00 AM in Accra is 2:30 PM in Colombo.
What time is it in Colombo right now?
Colombo uses IST at UTC+05:30. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the +5h 30m offset from Accra.
What is the best time to call Colombo from Accra?
Call between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM GMT — that maps to 2:30 PM–5:00 PM IST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is ahead, Accra or Colombo?
Accra is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Colombo. When it is 12:00 PM in Accra it is 5:30 PM in Colombo.
Do Accra and Colombo use different time zones?
Accra (Ghana) uses GMT at UTC+00:00, while Colombo (Sri Lanka) uses IST at UTC+05:30. The IANA identifiers are Africa/Accra and Asia/Colombo.
Does daylight saving time affect the Accra–Colombo difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +5h 30m offset between Accra and Colombo is fixed all year.
Which other cities share Accra's time zone?
GMT also covers London, Dublin, Lisbon, Accra, Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Casablanca, Dakar and 5 more.
Which countries use GMT, Accra's zone?
GMT is used in United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal (mainland), Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and 7 more.
Is there a day difference between Accra and Colombo?
Not normally. The +5h 30m gap only pushes the date over for late-evening times.
What is the time difference between Accra and Colombo?
Colombo is +5h 30m from Accra.
What timezone is Accra in?
Accra operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is Colombo in?
Colombo operates on Sri Lanka Time (SLST), UTC+5:30. Sharing India's timezone, Colombo is a key South Asian trade and tourism hub.
What are the business hours in Colombo?
Standard business hours in Colombo are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM IST.
Which countries use GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)?
GMT is used in United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal (mainland), Ghana, Senegal, and 9 more countries.
Does GMT observe daylight saving time?
Yes, GMT switches to BST during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about GMT?
GMT is based on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passing through Greenwich, London. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich has been the reference point for GMT since 1884.
Which cities are in the IST timezone?
Major cities in the IST timezone include Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad.
What is the UTC offset for IST?
India Standard Time (IST) is at UTC+05:30.
What should I know about the IST timezone?
India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of EST and 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT. India uses a single time zone despite spanning 30° of longitude.
When is it midnight in Accra, what time is it in Colombo?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in Accra (GMT), it is +5h 30m later in Colombo (IST).
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