Best time to visit Sri Lanka

Find the best time to visit Sri Lanka and plan your perfect trip in 2024/2025. Get holiday inspiration, weather guides, travel advice and find great deals.

Sri Lanka by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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Destination

Top Sri Lanka destinations

Below are the temperatures expected today at popular countries, regions and places in Sri Lanka. Select a destination to compare today's forecast with average weather conditions.

All Sri Lanka destinations

When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?

The best time to visit Sri Lanka (Colombo) is January, February, March, November and December based on the following average weather conditions.

Maximum daytime temperature = 22 - 30°C [remove]
Daily hours of sunshine = 10 hours or more [remove]

Change the criteria to reflect your weather preferences.

3.5
Jan
3.5
Feb
3.5
Mar
3
Apr
2.5
May
3
Jun
3
Jul
3
Aug
3
Sep
3
Oct
3.5
Nov
3.5
Dec

Change criteria

Max Day Temperature (°C)

31
Jan
31
Feb
32
Mar
32
Apr
31
May
30
Jun
30
Jul
30
Aug
30
Sep
30
Oct
30
Nov
30
Dec

Hours of Sunshine (daily)

8
Jan
9
Feb
9
Mar
8
Apr
6
May
6
Jun
6
Jul
6
Aug
6
Sep
6
Oct
7
Nov
7
Dec

Best time to visit

Destination

Daytime temperature

Sunshine hours

Sea temperature

Monthly rainfall

Days with some rain

Heat & humidity

The weather guide for Sri Lanka (Colombo) shows long term weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia) & today's weather forecast provided by meteoblue. Find out more about our data sources.

Metric (°C / mm) | Imperial (°F / inches)

Sri Lanka overview

The climate of Sri Lanka is consistently warm and sunny and conditions rarely grow chilly, even at night.

In the lowland areas around the coast, temperatures are much higher and humidity can make evenings rather clammy, although sea breezes keep daytimes fairly fresh.

Expect rain on this island at any time of the year: rainfall is most intense in the southwest from April to June and from October to November.

Beach with palm trees in Sri Lanka © Anton Gvozdikov - Fotolia.com

Rain tends to fall mainly in the afternoons and can be accompanied by thunderstorms.

The driest conditions are found in the northeast which has only one main rainy season (from October to January).

What to pack for Sri Lanka weather

You will need only light clothes for a trip to Sri Lanka.

Which is the hottest month in Sri Lanka?

The hottest time of year in Colombo, Sri Lanka is normally April. Expect maximum daytime temperatures to reach 32°C with very high heat and humidity.

Which month has the most rain in Sri Lanka?

In terms of rainfall, May is usually the wettest month in Colombo, Sri Lanka with 382mm on average. There are normally 14 days in May with some rain.

When is it sunniest in Sri Lanka?

The sunniest time of year in Colombo, Sri Lanka is normally March with bright sunshine on average for 72% of daylight hours; that's 9 hours of sunshine per day.

When is the sea warmest in Sri Lanka?

The sea is usually at its warmest in Colombo, Sri Lanka in April when the water temperature reaches 30°C.

Sri Lanka travel features

Do you want to learn more about Sri Lanka? Read our latest features covering travel tips and insider destination guides on where to go and what to do in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka - quick facts
Flight time^✝	11 hours
Time difference	UK +5.5 hours
Language(s)	Sinhala, Tamil, English
Currency	Sri Lankan Rupee
Electricity	G plug (230V)
Driving side	Left
Visa^✝	Yes
Why visit?	Beaches Culture Nature Nightlife
Tourist info	Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau