Sri Lanka Public Holidays 2026
Sri Lanka has 26 public holidays in 2026, including 13 full moon Poya days. 8 of them are also mercantile holidays, when most private-sector offices close. Dates follow the government gazette published under the Holidays Act No. 29 of 1971, as listed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Thursday | Tamil Thai Pongal Day | PublicMercantile | |
| Sunday | Navam Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Wednesday | Independence Day | PublicMercantile | |
| Sunday | Mahasivarathri Day | Public | |
| Monday | Medin Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Saturday | Id-Ul-Fitre (Ramazan Festival Day) | Public | |
| Wednesday | Bak Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Friday | Good Friday | Public | |
| Monday | Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day | PublicMercantile | |
| Tuesday | Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day | PublicMercantile | |
| Friday | May Day (International Workers’ Day) | PublicMercantile | |
| Friday | Vesak Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Saturday | Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day | PublicMercantile | |
| Thursday | Id-Ul-Allah (Hadji Festival Day) | Public | |
| Saturday | Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Monday | Poson Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Wednesday | Esala Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Wednesday | Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet's Birthday) | PublicMercantile | |
| Thursday | Nikini Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Saturday | Binara Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Sunday | Vap Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Sunday | Deepawali Festival Day | Public | |
| Tuesday | Il Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Wednesday | Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day | Poya day | |
| Friday | Christmas Day | PublicMercantile |
Long weekends in 2026
Breaks of three days or more where a holiday joins a Saturday and Sunday, with no leave needed.
- 3 days Saturday 28 February to Monday 2 March
- 3 days Friday 3 April to Sunday 5 April
- 4 days Saturday 11 April to Tuesday 14 April
- 3 days Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May
- 3 days Saturday 27 June to Monday 29 June
- 3 days Friday 25 December to Sunday 27 December
Public, bank and mercantile holidays
Every holiday on this list is a public holiday and a bank holiday. Only those marked mercantile are also holidays for most private-sector (mercantile) offices. Poya days are public holidays on each full moon.
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Also see: Sri Lanka holidays 2027
Last checked 13 November 2026. The government can declare or move holidays after the gazette, so please verify before booking.