Sri Lanka is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean known for its spectacular beaches, thousand-year-old Buddhist temples, an abundance of wildlife, and rich archaeological history. The plethora of water sports, breathtaking sunsets, sprawling tea gardens and of course, mouth-watering Sri Lankan food, are sure to make you fall in love with this gorgeous place.
Rich in culture, Sri Lanka is an intriguing blend of well-preserved local traditions amalgamated with rapid urbanization. With eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites dotted across this tiny country, it is no wonder that it was named the best country to visit in the world in 2019 by Lonely Planet. Drawing its influence from its neighbouring countries of the Indian sub-continent and South-East Asia, Sri Lanka is a must-visit for those looking for the best of everything.
| Srilanka Tourism | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Language | Sinhala and Tamil |
| Continent | Asia |
| Currency | Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) |
| Time Zone | (GMT+5:30) |
| Area | 65,610 km² (25,332 sq. mi.) |
| Best Time | Winter |
| Places To Visit | Sigiriya, Ella, Nuwara Eliya, Mirissa, Yala National Park, etc. |
Like so many islands, Sri Lanka has had its fair share of uninvited visitors over the centuries. The richness of its natural resources, particularly spices, must have brought dollar signs to the eyes of the Portuguese who landed here in 1505 even though it was an accidental discovery, their boat having been windswept into Galle harbour en route to the Maldives Islands. By the time the Dutch took over in 1658, the Portuguese had left a firm imprint, and you can still hear the influence in the language, names, art, music, dance and architecture here. In 1796, the British moved in, bringing in Tamil labourers from India to work on tea, coffee and coconut plantations. The British also anglicised the Portuguese name for the island, Ceilão Português, to Ceylon.
However, in a country still suffering from the repercussions of conflict and territorial claims, it is important to understand the history going back a little further. The original inhabitants were thought to be from northern India in the 5th century BC, with the Sinhalese emerging as the majority clan of the time. This period was also the birth of Buddhism here, with Anuradhapura becoming its first spiritual centre.
The island country can be visited all around the year, however December to April is considered as the best time to visit Sri Lanka. The only major point of focus is which side of the country is to be visited in a particular month. If you are deciding to visit the West and South coasts and discover the hillsides, December to March is an ideal time for it. However, April/May to September is best to see the Eastern Coast. Also, know that this country receives two different monsoon seasons at different times. So it implies that where one part of the country is wet, the other can be dry at the same time. With Sri Lanka’s position being close to the Equator, the temperature of this island country remains relatively constant throughout the year.
Sri Lanka accords de facto official status to Sinhala and Tamil, and English as a link language. The languages spoken on the island nation are deeply influenced by the various languages in India, Europe and Southeast Asia.
The climate is affected by two separate monsoons, meaning you can usually dodge the rain when you travel to Sri Lanka, as it will probably be dry somewhere on the island. The east is a mirror image of the west: when the southwest (“Yala”) monsoon hits the west and southwest, from April or May to September, the sun is shining in the east and northeast and vice versa. However, the northeast (“maha”) monsoon is generally lighter. In October and November, just before the maha monsoon, there is unsettled weather across the island. This means you might get caught in a downpour or thunderstorm wherever you are.
Bear in mind that there are variations in the general weather pattern, which means no two years are likely to be quite the same. But it’s a pretty safe bet that temperatures will be more or less constant. You can rely on an average temperature of 26–30˚(often higher) on the coast and the lowlands, dropping the higher up you go. So if you’re heading to Kandy, you can expect temperatures of 18˚–22˚, but only 14-16˚ in the hill country, such as Nuwara Eliya. And temperatures in the hills can drop to almost freezing at night, so make sure you pack extra layers.
Broadly speaking, in terms of the weather, the best time to visit the west and southwest of Sri Lanka, including the hill country, is December to March. If your itinerary is geared more towards the eastern side of the island, you’ll get the best conditions from around April or May to September.
Get more information on weather in Sri Lanka, including an average temperature and rainfall chart.
Sri Lanka is easily accessible by air. SriLankan Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airways, Mihin Lanka, Air Asia, Oman Air and many other airlines operate flights to and from Sri Lanka.
Being an island in the Indian Ocean, there is no land route to Sri Lanka.
Zegrahm Expeditions organises Cruises to Sri Lanka, but it is not a very recommended mode of transport since it is time-consuming and the ocean can get turbulent at times.
