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| January |
| Whale and Dolphin watching season at Southern coast |
The southern coast and the North West coast are ideal for Whale and Dolphin spotting during the season from January to April. Large pods of Dolphins can be spotted few miles offshore. Those who are lucky might also experience the sighting of a gigantic Blue Whale swimming in the deep seas. |
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| Kala Pola (Art fair) |
At the end of January, local artists gather in Colombo to exhibit their creative talents at the Annual Kala Pola – art fair. Visitors can live watch the art creating by Sri Lankan famous artists, and buy their arts. |
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| Parade of Kelani Temple (Duruthu Perahera) |
Meanwhile, during full-moon in January, the ancient Kelaniya Buddhist temple just minutes away from the island’s capital, will hold their annual perehara – a dazzling cultural procession with scores of elephants all dressed in their finery, traditional dancers, drummers, flag bearers, and Buddhist monks, all walk in procession in honour of Lord Buddha. |
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| Whale watching |
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| Art fair |
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| Kelaniya Parade |
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| February |
| Donald Steel Golf Tournament |
In the Kandyan capital, the much awaited Donald Steele Golf Tournament is held in February in the picturesque Victoria Golf and Country Resort. |
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| Navam Perahera |
More excitement is unveiled on the streets of Colombo in February with the Navam Perehara that takes place on full-moon day. A treat for children and adults alike, this perehara show cases all the traditional dance forms including mask dancers, Kandyan and Kavadi dancers, drummers and glittering elephants. A number of elephants from various parts of the country make the long journey to Colombo along with their mahouts for this event. |
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| Donald Steel Golf Tournament |
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| Navam Perahera |
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| March |
Annual Cricket Season
of Schools
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School cricket in Sri Lanka is very popular and many of the annual `big’ matches are held in March of these the annual Royal Thomian cricket match is much anticipated and is good fun for both players and spectators. |
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| Hot-Air Baloon Festival |
The annual hot air balloon festival also takes place in Colombo during March. Participants from around the world attend this festival. |
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| Annual Cricket Season |
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| Hot Air Baloon Festival |
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| April |
| Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebrations |
April is a holiday month in Sri Lanka where the Sinhalese and Tamil communities celebrate the dawning of the New Year. It’s a time when families get together to conduct traditional rituals, religious ceremonies, offer thanks for a good rice harvest, an wish peace and prosperity to all for the coming new year. Celebrations and traditional rituals are best seen in the rural areas. Colombo empties out during this time when most escape to the cooler hills or the sandy beaches. |
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| Nuwara Eliya Spring Festival |
Nuwara Eliya – the upcountry hill station, spruces itself up and various activities ranging from golf tournaments, motor cross races, and flower shows are all held. |
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| Sinhala Tamil New Year |
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| Nuwara Eliya Spring Festival |
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| May |
| Wesak Festival |
On Vesak full-moon Poya day in May, Buddhists all over the world venerate the life of Lord Buddha – his birth, enlightenment and attend to Nibbana. Homes, villages and cities in Sri Lanka are lit up in serene splendor with oil lamps, intricate hand made lanterns, and colourful Pandals depicting the life story of Lord Buddha are erected across the island. |
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Begining of the Southeast
Surfing season
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May is also the beginning of the surfing period in Arugam Bay in the southeast. Listed as one of ten top surf spots in the world, Arugam Bay is a popular youthful haunt for surfers and holiday makers. The turquoise seas of the coast off Trincomalee in the East are also perfect at this time for snorkelling as well as whale and dolphin spotting excursions. |
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| Vesak Festival |
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| Arugam Bay Surfing |
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| June |
| Poson Festival |
During the full-moon poya day of June, Buddhists celebrate Poson when the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda, is remembered. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees flock to Buddhist shrines across the country to pay homage to the Buddha, Dhamma (Buddha’s teachings) and the Sangha (the Buddhist monks). |
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| Mihintale Festival Season |
Mihintale where Buddhism originated on the island in 247 BC is takes on a serene air during this period with thousands of pilgrims lighting incense and oil lamps in honour of Buddha. |
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High Surf Season
Southeast
Coast |
June is also the height of the surfing period in Arugam Bay when international surfing championships are held. |
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| Poson Festival |
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| Festival Season at Mihintale |
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| July |
| Turtle Watching at Rekawa |
Globally, all seven species of marine turtles are endangered. Of these, five species – the Hawksbill, Leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley, Olive Ridley, and Greenback all come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. These marine turtles are best observed on the coast of Rakuwa located in the Deep South near Tangalle. This strip of beach is a traditional nesting site for marine turtles and is protected by Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Department offices that stays vigil all night on Rekuwa beach to protect the turtle eggs from poaches and other animals. Set off late at night to Rekuwa beach and watch quietly as these giant turtles make their way ever so slowly out of the ocean and on to the beach where the nesting process happens. Up to about 150 eggs are layed in a nest that is methodically dug into the sand. After several hours, the exhausted turtle heads back to sea only to return time and again. A phenomenal ritual that is fascinating to observe. |
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| Kataragama Festival |
During full-moon in July, the sacred jungle shrine of Kataragama becomes even more intriguing and full of sound and colour when the Esala Perehara is held for two weeks in honour of God Skandha, the warrior god of Kataragama. The perehara depicts Hindu folklore, music and dance forms, as well as fire walking in sacrifice and devotion to God Kataragama. Devotees flock to Kataragama’s Hindu shrines especially when poojas (devotions) are presented to the Gods. Baskets filled with fruit and flowers, burning incense and oil lamps, dashing of coconuts, clanging of bells, and the continuous chanting – a mesmerizing experience not to be missed. |
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| Snorkelling-whale & dolphin spotting in Trinco |
The waters around Trincomalee are inhabited by Dolphins, Marine Turtles and Whales including Blue Whales and Sperm Whales. This is the best time to go whale watching off the coast of Trincomalee. Snorkelling is possible around Pigeon Island off the coast of Nilaveli. This is a protected National Park under the Department of Wildlife & Conservation. A breeding site for Blue Rock Pigeon, these islands are surrounded by coral reefs and soft coral which are ideal for snorkeling. |
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| Kitesurfing in Kalpitiya on the North West Coast |
Kitesurf over the turquoise seas that surrounds this paradise island or skim the waters of a tranquil lagoon. Sri Lanka has excellent kite surfing spots for beginners as well as the more experienced. The best season for kitesurfing on the North West coast is from May to December. |
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| Turtle watching at Rekawa |
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| Kataragama Festival |
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| Dolpins near Trinco Coast |
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| Kitesurfing at Kalpitiya |
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| August |
| Kandy Esala Perahera |
In August each year, the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha, encased in a golden casket, is taken in procession, on the back of the temple elephant along the streets of Kandy for all to see. This ritual, which has been taking place for centuries, is an experience of a lifetime. Scores of elephants all dressed in their finery, Kandyan chiefs in their traditional royal attire, thousands of dancers, drummers, flag bearers, and Buddhist monks, all walk in procession in honour of Lord Buddha. Thousands of people line the streets of Kandy to get a glimpse of the golden casket and to pay homage to Lord Buddha. |
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| Bellanvila Perahera |
In Colombo another colourful parade goes with the Kandy Esala Perahera. This is also fulfilled with varous up-country and low-country dancing, elephants, flag holders, fire acrobats and other colourful events. |
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| Elephants Gathering at Minneriya National Park |
During the dry season from July to October, water becomes scares in the north central province and wild elephants from all around migrate to Minneriya National Park’s large Minneriya reservoir. Coined as ‘The Gathering’, herds of over 300 elephants can be seen by the Minneriya water tank. The number of elephants 'gathering' at this time is known to be the highest in the world – a spectacular sight not to be missed. Recently the Lonely Planet guide declared the ‘Elephant Gathering’ in Minneriya as the `sixth greatest wildlife spectacle in the world...' |
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| Kandy Esala Perahera |
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| Bellanwila Esala Perahera |
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| Elephant Gathering at Minneriya |
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| September |
| Gem and Jewellery Exhibition |
The 23rd Annual Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Show will be held at the BMICH Exhibition & Convention Centre in Colombo. A large number of local and international jewelers will exhibit gems and jewellery at Facets Sri Lanka. Visitors can purchase exquisite precious and semi- precious gems ranging from blue Sapphires to moonstones from Sri Lanka as well as intricate pieces of modern and traditional gold and silver jewellery. Facets Sri Lanka is conducted in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Association, National Gem & Jewellery Authority and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. |
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| Annual Vintage Car Rally |
The Vintage Car Owner’s Club of Sri Lanka will hold its annual car rally in Colombo. This club has a membership of over 200 who own vintage vehicles. The annual car rally will showcase Veteran, Edwardian, Vintage, and post-Vintage vehicles in Sri Lanka including cars, buses, Lorries, motorcycles, and steam driven vehicles. |
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| Gem and Jewellery Exhibition |
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| Annual Vintage Car Rally |
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