When to go
Notwithstanding the fact that it is an equatorial country, where the rains can be irregular from one year to the next, the best months to visit
Sri Lanka as a whole, and therefore also the cities of the interior, are
February and March.
In fact, in January, it still rains a lot on the east coast, while from April to September, it rains a lot in the south-west and in inland areas, and then from October to December, it rains a lot in the whole country.
On the other hand, for a
beach holiday, in the northwest you can go from mid-January to mid-September, in Puttalam and Kalpitiya and on the south-west coast (from Colombo to Tangalle) you can go from January to March, on the east coast (Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalmunai) you can go from February (or for safety from March) to mid-September, and on the south-east coast (Hambantota) you can go from January to mid-September.
The month of
may is generally rainy only on the west coast and in the mountainous areas, but around the middle of the month, a cyclone can form on the Bay of Bengal, bringing abundant rainfall throughout the country, which can trigger landslides and floods. So this period, roughly 10 to 20 May, can be avoided throughout Sri Lanka.
In summer,
from June to August, the east coast is preferable because it is sunnier, and the sea is calm. On the contrary, in this period, on the south-west coast, from Colombo to Tangalle, the weather is rainy, and the sea is rough.
What to pack
All year round, pack
light clothes of natural fibers, a light raincoat or umbrella, comfortable shoes, a scarf for the breeze, and a light sweatshirt for the evening, especially at low-mountain elevations (see Kandy). From November to March, you can bring a light sweatshirt for the evening also at sea level, especially in the north-west. In Nuwara Eliya and at high altitudes, bring spring/autumn clothes, a sweater and a jacket for the evening, and a raincoat or umbrella.
When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
Before entering temples, it is customary to remove shoes, dress neatly and cover a little.
Back to the climate of
Sri Lanka