Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026
What are the public holidays in Sri Lanka during 2026?
Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026.
What dates are the public holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026?
Is there anything that I need to know?
Find out more by reading on.
Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - What is a Full Moon Poya Day?
A Poya Day is a civil and bank holiday.
The full moon day is normally considered as the Poya day in every month.
Poya is the name given to the Lunar monthly Buddhist holiday of Uposatha in Sri Lanka.
Usopatha is a Buddhist Day of observance.
The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for “cleansing of the defiled mind”.
On each Poya day, both lay and ordained members of the sangha (community) intensify their practice, deepen their knowledge and express communal commitment through acts of lay-monastic reciprocity.
It is a day for practicing the Budda’s teachings and meditation.
Lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or traditionally Eight Precepts.
For further information regarding the Precepts https://thebuddhistcentre.com/buddhism has some further reading.
Public holiday dates
Here is a list of Public and National Holidays in Sri Lanka during 2026 so you can plan your holiday.
Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - The Poya Days in 2026
Date
Day
Holiday
2nd January
Friday
Durutha Full Moon Poya Day
14th January
Wednesday
Tamil Thai Pongal Day
1st February
Sunday
Navam Full Moon Poya Day
4th February
Wednesday
National Day
15th February
Sunday
Mahasivarathri Day
3rd March
Tuesday
Madin Full Moon Poya Day
21st March
Saturday
Id Ul-Fitr
1st April
Wednesday
Bak Full Moon Poya Day
3rd April
Friday
Good Friday
13th April
Monday
Day Prior to Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day
14th April
Tuesday
Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day
1st May
Friday
May Day
1st May
Friday
Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
2nd May
Saturday
Day Following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
27th May
Wednesday
Id Ul-Alha
29th June
Monday
Poson Full Moon Poya Day
29th July
Wednesday
Esala Full Moon Poya Day
25th August
Tuesday
Milad un-Nabi
27th August
Thursday
Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
26th September
Saturday
Binari Full Moon Poya Day
25th October
Sunday
Vap Full Moon Poya Day
8th November
Sunday
Deepavali
24th November
Tuesday
III Full Moon Poya Day
23rd December
Wedsday
Undavap Full Moon Poya Day
25th December
Friday
Christmas Day
Please note that these date were researched and found at a Sri Lankan Government website providing dates for public holidays. https://publicholidays.lk/poya-day/
Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - What does it mean for me as a tourist to Sri Lanka?
Some of the Five Precepts have a noticeable effect on Poya Days for visitors.
Meat, Fowl and Fish products are not available to buy.
Alcohol is not available in most places.
All the Wine Stores and Supermarket alcohol sales are closed. Most bars and restaurants also are not allowed to sell alcohol on the day.
Buddhist Temples will be busy
A special Buddhist program is conducted by temples on Poya Days and is called Sil (sometimes spelt Sill).
Typically it starts early in the morning around 6 a.m. and comprises of sermons, discussion, blessings and meditation. It can last for 12 hours and the attendees are normally provided with food and drinks during the day.
If you do decide to visit a temple either during a Poya Day or outside the holidays please remember to dress and act appropriately.
What should I wear?
- Trousers/pants/skirts or any other dress long enough to cover the knee.
- A shirt/t-shirt/blouse or any other dress should cover the shoulders.
- No hats and head cover.
- No shoes/sandals or slippers.
When taking pictures.
It’s really important also not to take photos with your back to the Buddhist Statue.
Please do not touch, sit near or climb on a Buddhist Statue.
Please also get permission to take photos and never take pictures during worship.
Whatever you plan to do on your holiday in Sri Lanka we hope that you enjoy your time on this Paradise Island.
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