Sri Lanka: public holidays 2026

Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon observance listed as a nationwide public holiday in Sri Lanka.

Tamil Thai Pongal Day is the Tamil Thai Pongal observance listed as a nationwide public holiday in Sri Lanka.

Navam Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with the appointment of Buddha’s two chief disciples and the first Buddhist Council after his death.

Independence Day commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British colonial rule in 1948 and is observed as a nationwide public holiday.

Mahasivarathri Day is Sri Lanka’s nationwide public holiday for the Mahasivarathri religious observance.

Medin Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with Buddha’s visit to his hometown of Kapilavastu.

Id-Ul-Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast) marks the end of Ramadan’s dawn-to-sunset fasting and is listed as a nationwide Sri Lankan public holiday.

Bak Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka, when he made peace between two warring local chiefs.

Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death; Sri Lanka lists it as a nationwide public holiday.

The day before Sinhala and Tamil New Year is the preceding day in Sri Lanka’s nationwide public-holiday period for the traditional New Year and local harvest festival.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is Sri Lanka’s traditional New Year and a local harvest festival, observed as a nationwide public holiday.

International Workers’ Day recognises workers and is associated with marches and public meetings across Sri Lanka; it is a nationwide public holiday.

Vesak Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha and is widely celebrated in Sri Lanka.

The day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day forms the second day of Sri Lanka’s two-day Vesak public holiday. Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.

Id-Ul-Alha (Eid al-Adha) is the Islamic festival associated with Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca; Sri Lanka lists it as a nationwide public holiday.

Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day is a full-moon Poya observance listed separately in Sri Lanka’s national public-holiday calendar from Poson Full Moon Poya Day.

Poson Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka from India; it is celebrated as a major festival, comparable in prominence to Vesak.

Esala Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating Buddha’s first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, and the beginning of the rains retreat for Buddhist monks.

Milad-Un-Nabi (the Prophet’s Birthday) is the Muslim commemoration of the Prophet’s birth, observed in the month of Rabi al-Awwal; Sri Lanka lists it as a nationwide public holiday.

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon observance in Sri Lanka’s nationwide public-holiday calendar; the Nikini period is associated with the conclusion of the Kandy Esala Perahera.

Binara Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with the establishment of the Buddhist Bhikkhuni Order.

Vap Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with Buddha’s preaching of the Abhidhamma to the gods in Tavatimsa and the end of the Buddhist fasting period.

Deepavali (Diwali) is a Hindu festival; Sri Lanka’s official tourism reference describes it as traditionally marking Lord Rama’s return after 14 years of exile.

Ill Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating Buddha’s ordination of 60 disciples as the first missionaries.

Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating the arrival in Anuradhapura of the Bo-tree sapling brought by Sangamitta, Ashoka’s daughter.

Christmas Day is the Christian feast commemorating the Nativity of Jesus and is observed as a nationwide public holiday in Sri Lanka.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon observance listed as a nationwide public holiday in Sri Lanka.

Tamil Thai Pongal Day is the Tamil Thai Pongal observance listed as a nationwide public holiday in Sri Lanka.

Independence Day commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British colonial rule in 1948 and is observed as a nationwide public holiday.

Navam Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with the appointment of Buddha’s two chief disciples and the first Buddhist Council after his death.

Mahasivarathri Day is Sri Lanka’s nationwide public holiday for the Mahasivarathri religious observance.

Medin Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with Buddha’s visit to his hometown of Kapilavastu.

Id-Ul-Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast) marks the end of Ramadan’s dawn-to-sunset fasting and is listed as a nationwide Sri Lankan public holiday.

Bak Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka, when he made peace between two warring local chiefs.

The day before Sinhala and Tamil New Year is the preceding day in Sri Lanka’s nationwide public-holiday period for the traditional New Year and local harvest festival.

Sinhala and Tamil New Year is Sri Lanka’s traditional New Year and a local harvest festival, observed as a nationwide public holiday.

Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death; Sri Lanka lists it as a nationwide public holiday.

International Workers’ Day recognises workers and is associated with marches and public meetings across Sri Lanka; it is a nationwide public holiday.

Vesak Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha and is widely celebrated in Sri Lanka.

The day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day forms the second day of Sri Lanka’s two-day Vesak public holiday. Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha.

Id-Ul-Alha (Eid al-Adha) is the Islamic festival associated with Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca; Sri Lanka lists it as a nationwide public holiday.

Poson Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka from India; it is celebrated as a major festival, comparable in prominence to Vesak.

Esala Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating Buddha’s first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, and the beginning of the rains retreat for Buddhist monks.

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon observance in Sri Lanka’s nationwide public-holiday calendar; the Nikini period is associated with the conclusion of the Kandy Esala Perahera.

Milad-Un-Nabi (the Prophet’s Birthday) is the Muslim commemoration of the Prophet’s birth, observed in the month of Rabi al-Awwal; Sri Lanka lists it as a nationwide public holiday.

Binara Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with the establishment of the Buddhist Bhikkhuni Order.

Vap Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday associated with Buddha’s preaching of the Abhidhamma to the gods in Tavatimsa and the end of the Buddhist fasting period.

Deepavali (Diwali) is a Hindu festival; Sri Lanka’s official tourism reference describes it as traditionally marking Lord Rama’s return after 14 years of exile.

Ill Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating Buddha’s ordination of 60 disciples as the first missionaries.

Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day is a Buddhist full-moon public holiday commemorating the arrival in Anuradhapura of the Bo-tree sapling brought by Sangamitta, Ashoka’s daughter.

Christmas Day is the Christian feast commemorating the Nativity of Jesus and is observed as a nationwide public holiday in Sri Lanka.