Public Holidays in Sri Lanka 2026
26 listed public holiday dates in 2026
Sri Lanka has one of the world's most extensive public-holiday calendars because every Full Moon Poya Day is a common holiday.
Sri Lanka Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 3 | Saturday | Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day |
| Jan 15 | Thursday | Tamil Thai Pongal Day |
| Feb 1 | Sunday | Nawam Full Moon Poya Day |
| Feb 4 | Wednesday | Independence Day |
| Feb 15 | Sunday | Maha Sivaratri Day |
| Mar 2 | Monday | Medin Full Moon Poya Day |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Id-Ul-Fitr |
| Apr 1 | Wednesday | Bak Full Moon Poya Day |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Apr 13 | Monday | Day Prior to Sinhala and Tamil New Year |
| Apr 14 | Tuesday | Sinhala and Tamil New Year |
| May 1 | Friday | Vesak Full Moon Poya Day |
| May 1 | Friday | May Day |
| May 2 | Saturday | Day Following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day |
| May 28 | Thursday | Id-Ul-Alha |
| May 30 | Saturday | Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day |
| Jun 29 | Monday | Poson Full Moon Poya Day |
| Jul 29 | Wednesday | Esala Full Moon Poya Day |
| Aug 26 | Wednesday | Milaud-Nabi |
| Aug 27 | Thursday | Nikini Full Moon Poya Day |
| Sep 26 | Saturday | Binara Full Moon Poya Day |
| Oct 25 | Sunday | Vap Full Moon Poya Day |
| Nov 8 | Sunday | Deepavali Festival Day |
| Nov 24 | Tuesday | Il Full Moon Poya Day |
| Dec 23 | Wednesday | Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
* 2027 Poya and religious dates are provisional until Sri Lanka publishes and approves the official 2027 desk calendar.
Full Moon Poya Holidays 2026
The official 2026 government desk calendar lists public, bank, mercantile and Full Moon Poya holidays under the Holidays Act.
Holiday Rules in Sri Lanka
The 2026 dates come from the official government calendar. 2027 Poya and religious dates are provisional until the next official calendar is approved.
Sri Lanka Holiday Calendar: What to Know
- Every Full Moon Poya Day is a common holiday.
- Independence Day is 4 February.
- Sinhala and Tamil New Year is in April.
- 2026 dates are government-approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 2026 dates official?
Yes, they are approved under the Holidays Act.
Why are most 2027 dates provisional?
The government-approved 2027 desk calendar is not yet the basis used here.
Are all Poya days public holidays?
Yes, Full Moon Poya days are common holidays.
When is Independence Day?
4 February.
Sources & methodology
View sources used for this page
Official 2026 public, bank, mercantile and Poya holiday calendar approved under the Holidays Act.
Independent calendar cross-check used for date, weekday and observed-day review. Government notices and statutory rules take precedence where they differ.
Source hierarchy: government, statutory or institutional material is the primary reference. Timeanddate is retained only as an independent cross-check; later official declarations take precedence.