When looking at the climate, Sri Lanka can be divided into two areas: the east and the west. Before booking your trip and applying for your Sri Lanka visa, check which period is best suited for your trip to the country. This article describes what temperatures and weather conditions to expect in different parts of the country.
Sri Lanka’s climate
Due to Sri Lanka’s tropical climate, the country has fairly constant, warm temperatures throughout the year. Sri Lanka also has two monsoon periods that bring a lot of rain: one from December to March and one from May to October. To determine the best travel period based on the weather, it is therefore important to look at the rainy seasons. In the periods when there is a lot of rain, floods occur regularly in Sri Lanka. Besides the monsoons, the centrally located mountain ranges also influence the climate.
The southwest monsoon (Yala) and the northeast monsoon (Maha)
In the east of Sri Lanka, temperatures are fairly constant. In the summer, the average maximum temperature is around 34 degrees Celsius, in the winter it is around 28 degrees Celsius. The rain in the east of the country is mainly brought by the northeast monsoon. This monsoon (Maha) lasts from October to the end of April. Those who want to visit this part of Sri Lanka should therefore plan their trip between June and September.
Climate table Trincomalee (Sri Lanka east coast)
| Month | Average min. temperature in °C Avg. min. temp. in °C | Average max. temperature in °C Avg. max. temp. in °C | Average number of days rain Avg. number days rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 29 | 16 |
| February | 20 | 21 | 13 |
| March | 21 | 34 | 15 |
| April | 23 | 35 | 24 |
| May | 25 | 34 | 17 |
| June | 25 | 34 | 8 |
| July | 25 | 34 | 9 |
| August | 24 | 34 | 11 |
| September | 24 | 34 | 13 |
| October | 23 | 33 | 22 |
| November | 22 | 31 | 24 |
| December | 21 | 29 | 22 |
In the west of Sri Lanka, the difference in temperature between summer and winter is even smaller than in the east of the country. In this part of Sri Lanka, the average maximum temperature in the winter months is around 30 degrees Celsius and around 32 degrees Celsius in the summer months. Between May and September, the southwest monsoon (Yala) passes over the west of the island, causing much wind and rain in this period. In this part of Sri Lanka, the months of January, February and March are the months with the least rainfall, which is why these months are generally considered the best travel period for those who want to visit this part of the island.
Climate table Colombo (Sri Lanka west coast)
| Month | Average max. temperature in °C Avg. min. temp. in °C | Average min. temperature in °C Avg. max. temp. in °C | Average number of days rain Average number of days rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 22 | 5 |
| February | 31 | 23 | 4 |
| March | 32 | 24 | 7 |
| April | 32 | 24 | 11 |
| May | 31 | 25 | 10 |
| June | 30 | 25 | 10 |
| July | 30 | 25 | 8 |
| August | 30 | 25 | 8 |
| September | 30 | 25 | 10 |
| October | 30 | 24 | 14 |
| November | 30 | 23 | 14 |
| December | 30 | 23 | 11 |
Sri Lanka: more than 300 days of rain per year
The monsoon periods greatly influence the weather in Sri Lanka. However, just as there can be rain outside the monsoon periods, there are also sunny days during the monsoon periods.
Sri Lanka is a rainy country; on average, it rains more than 300 days per year. However, it almost never rains all day. If it rains, it often rains in the mornings and evenings, even during the monsoon periods. The transitional months between the monsoons are generally known as the wettest months. Since the transition between the monsoons takes place in October and November, it is wise not to plan your trip in these months.
Sri Lanka visa application
For a trip to Sri Lanka, a Sri Lanka visa is required. The visa can be applied for online 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It is important to check which type of visa is required for your travel plans before you apply. There are business visas, tourist visas and transit visas. Travellers who intend to stay in Sri Lanka for a maximum of 30 days are generally eligible for an e-visa Sri Lanka (ETA Sri Lanka).
The entire application process of the e-visa Sri Lanka takes place online. The first step is to fill out the digital application form for the ETA Sri Lanka. Then, you pay the fees, after which the application is processed. On average, the e-visa Sri Lanka is approved within 72 hours.
Take note: this news article about the visa for Sri Lanka is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for Sri Lanka.