Apply for leave on Friday, Jan 16 (right after Thai Pongal on Thursday, Jan 15) to unlock a seamless 4-day long weekend getaway (Thu-Sun) to the South Coast.
Commemorates the first visit of the Buddha to Mahiyanganaya, Sri Lanka.
Tamil harvest thanksgiving festival honoring the Sun God.
January kicks off Sri Lanka's cultural calendar with Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day (marking the Buddha's first visit to Mahiyanganaya) and Tamil Thai Pongal Day, the vibrant harvest thanksgiving festival honoring the Sun God with boiling milk pots (Pongal) and kolam art.
There are 2 official public holidays in January 2026: Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day (Saturday, Jan 3) and Tamil Thai Pongal Day (Thursday, Jan 15).
Yes, Thai Pongal on January 15 is a gazetted Public, Bank, and Mercantile holiday, meaning commercial banks, private corporate offices, and government services are closed.
The South Coast (Mirissa, Galle, Unawatuna, Tangalle) and Central Highlands (Ella, Hatton) experience sunny skies and calm seas in January.
January is peak dry season for Sri Lanka's South & West Coasts (Bentota, Galle, Mirissa, Weligama, Tangalle) and the Central Highlands (Ella, Nuwara Eliya). Seas are calm with turquoise waters, ideal for whale watching and beach escapes.
