Public Holidays in Sri Lanka for the Upcoming Year 2018

by | Dec 26, 2017

Here’s a detailed look at all the public holidays in Sri Lanka for 2018 followed by a small description regarding the popular holidays.

Date Day Holiday
1 Jan Mon Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day
14 Jan Sun Tamil Thai Pongal Day
31 Jan Wed Navam Full Moon Poya Day
4 Feb Sun National Day
13 Feb Tue Mahasivarathri Day
1 Mar Thu Madin Full Moon Poya Day
30 Mar Fri Good Friday
31 Mar Sat Bak Full Moon Poya Day
13 Apr Fri Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
14 Apr Sat Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day
29 Apr Sun Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
30 Apr Mon Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
1 May Tue May Day
29 May Tue Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day
15 Jun Fri Id Ul-Fitr
27 Jun Wed Poson Full Moon Poya Day
27 Jul Fri Esala Full Moon Poya Day
22 Aug Wed Id Ul-Alha
25 Aug Sat Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
24 Sep Mon Binara Full Moon Poya Day
24 Oct Wed Vap Full Moon Poya Day
6 Nov Tue Deepavali
20 Nov Tue Milad un-Nabi
22 Nov Thu Ill Full Moon Poya Day
22 Dec Sat Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day
25 Dec Tue Christmas Day

Poya Holidays

Sri Lanka celebrates 12 Poya Holidays in a year. Every time you see a full moon in the sky (usually one every month), you know that Sri Lanka is celebrating a Poya Holiday on that day. Most shops, all banks and all schools are closed on Poya days.

Each of these full moon days has its own name and significance according to the Buddhist religion. Since Sri Lanka is a Budhist country, all full moon days are declared as holidays.

  1. Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day: to mark the first time Buddha visited Sri Lanka after His enlightenment.
  2. Navam Full Moon Poya Day: celebrates the appointing of Buddha’s two main disciples.
  3. Madin Full Moon Poya Day: to mark Buddha’s first visit to his hometown – Kapilavastu.
  4. Bak Full Moon Poya Day: to mark Buddha’s second visit which was to make peace between two warring Kings.
  5. Vesak Full Moon Poya Day: marks Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and achievement of Nirvana.
  6. Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day: to commemorate the introduction of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
  7. Poson Full Moon Poya Day: to commemorate the introduction of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
  8. Esala Full Moon Poya Day: celebrating the arrival of the Tooth Relic and Buddha’s first sermon.
  9. Nikini Full Moon Poya Day: marking the retreat of Bhikkus after Buddha’s death.
  10. Binara Full Moon Poya Day: to mark the establishment of Buddhist Bikkhuni Order.
  11. Vap Full Moon Poya Day: to mark Buddha’s preaching to the Gods.
  12. Ill Full Moon Poya Day: to commemorate the ordination of 60 disciples.
  13. Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day: celebrating the arrival of the Bo Tree in Anuradhapura.

Other Religious Festivals

Tamil Thai Pongal

A popular Hindu festival marking the beginning of spring, the end of the farming season and the collection of the first food from the harvest.

Mahasivarathri Day

A famous Hindu festival that celebrates the reverence of Lord Shiva. Shivarathri is the night when Shiva performed the dance of prehistoric creation, preservation and destruction. This festival also marks the re-marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. A day of mourning when the Christians meditate on the suffering and death of Lord Jesus.

Sinhala & Tamil New Year

Marks the start of the new agricultural season. As per tradition, elders give gifts of money to the young, as a mark of the first financial transaction of the year and is said to bring about good luck.

Vesak

Vesak is the most important festival celebrated by Buddhists. The full moon on this day has special significance because this is the day when Buddhists believe he was born, attained enlightenment, and when he died.

Id-ul-Fitr

A popular Muslim festival that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. It is a well anticipated holiday that calls for feasting, rejoicing and thankfulness in the Muslim community.

Id-ul-Adha

Another important Muslim holiday that is known as the “Feast of Sacrifice”. Charity is done in abundance during this festival, along with the sacrificing of animals.

Deepavali

Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights to mark the return of Lord Rama, from a 14 year exile. Hindus celebrate the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and purity over impurity.

Milad-un-Nabi

A religious festival for Muslims celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

Christmas Day

The most popular and most celebrated Christian festival is the birth of Christ – also known as Christmas. Exchanging gifts, decorating homes and singing carols are some of the traditions of Christmas around the world.

National Holidays

National Day

The 4th of February marks Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule and is celebrated in grand style throughout the country.

May Day

A holiday celebrated in many countries around the world to commemorate the achievements of the labor movement.