Sri Lanka Public Holidays 2026
Official public, bank & mercantile holidays — including all Poya days
January
Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantileTamil Thai Pongal Day
PublicBankMercantile
February
Nawam Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantileIndependence Day
PublicBankMercantileMaha Sivarathri Day
PublicBank
March
Medin Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantileId-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day)
PublicBank
April
Bak Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantileGood Friday
PublicBankDay Prior to Sinhala and Tamil New Year Da
PublicBankMercantileSinhala and Tamil New Year Day
PublicBankMercantile
May
Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantileMay Day (International Workers’ Day
PublicBankMercantileDay Following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantileId-Ul-Alha (Hadji Festival Day)
PublicBankAdhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
June
Poson Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
July
- 14d away
Esala Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
August
- 42d away
Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet’s Birthday)
PublicBankMercantile - 43d away
Nikini Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
September
- 73d away
Binara Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
October
- 102d away
Vap Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
November
- 116d away
Deepavali Festival Day
PublicBankMercantile - 132d away
Il Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile
December
- 161d away
Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day
PublicBankMercantile - 163d away
Christmas Day
PublicBankMercantile
Holiday Types in Sri Lanka
Public Holiday
All government offices & most businesses closed
Bank Holiday
All banks & financial institutions closed
Mercantile Holiday
Shops & commercial establishments closed under the Wages Boards Ordinance
About Sri Lanka Public Holidays
Sri Lanka officially observes around 25 public holidays per year, gazetted by the Government of Sri Lanka. These include national, religious, and cultural observances for Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities — making Sri Lanka one of the countries with the highest number of public holidays globally.
Poya days (full moon days) are gazetted public holidays every month. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world where every full moon is a public holiday, reflecting the country's predominantly Buddhist heritage.
Bank holidays are declared separately under the Banking Act and apply to all licensed banks and financial institutions. Mercantile holidays apply to shops and commercial establishments regulated under the Wages Boards Ordinance and related statutes. A single date can be a public, bank, and mercantile holiday simultaneously.
Holiday dates are sourced from official Government Gazettes. Dates may occasionally be revised by gazette notification — always verify with official sources for time-sensitive planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between public, bank, and mercantile holidays?▾
Public holidays apply to all government offices and most businesses. Bank holidays apply to banks and financial institutions under the Banking Act. Mercantile holidays apply to shops and commercial establishments under the Wages Boards Ordinance. A date can fall under one, two, or all three categories.
What are Poya days and why are they holidays in Sri Lanka?▾
Poya days are the full moon days of each month, observed as public holidays due to Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage. They are gazetted monthly, meaning all government offices, banks, and most businesses are closed. Sri Lanka is one of the only countries in the world that makes every full moon a national public holiday.
Are these holiday dates officially gazetted?▾
Yes. All holidays listed here are sourced from official Government Gazettes published by the Department of Government Printing. Dates can occasionally be changed by subsequent gazette notification — always verify with official sources for critical planning.
Does Sri Lanka observe holidays for all religions?▾
Yes. Sri Lanka officially observes holidays for Buddhism (Poya days, Vesak), Hinduism (Thai Pongal, Deepavali), Islam (Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Alha), and Christianity (Christmas, Good Friday). This multi-religious holiday calendar reflects Sri Lanka's diverse population.