Rainy season

Sri Lanka: when is the rainy season?

The rainy season lasts in May and from October to November, the dry season from February to March. Best time to travel, dry and with good holiday weather: February – March.

Precipitation by destination

Bentota
Rainy: in May and from October to November
1. 104
2. 88
3. 116
4. 212
5. 305
6. 280
7. 231
8. 221
9. 267
10. 367
11. 384
12. 220
Colombo
Rainy: in May and from October to November
1. 77
2. 67
3. 101
4. 193
5. 283
6. 273
7. 232
8. 219
9. 257
10. 375
11. 363
12. 183
Galle
Rainy: in May and from October to November
1. 115
2. 83
3. 110
4. 185
5. 230
6. 184
7. 152
8. 157
9. 201
10. 248
11. 304
12. 208
Jaffna
Rainy: from October to December
1. 73
2. 32
3. 24
4. 53
5. 67
6. 29
7. 36
8. 54
9. 72
10. 224
11. 354
12. 204
Kandy
Rainy: in April and from October to November
1. 104
2. 84
3. 118
4. 249
5. 181
6. 121
7. 140
8. 127
9. 144
10. 382
11. 411
12. 215
Negombo
Rainy: in May and from October to November
1. 62
2. 49
3. 93
4. 186
5. 254
6. 246
7. 218
8. 210
9. 242
10. 358
11. 329
12. 152
Sigiriya
Rainy: in April and from October to December
1. 85
2. 52
3. 65
4. 158
5. 123
6. 58
7. 61
8. 65
9. 86
10. 262
11. 279
12. 170
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Rainy: in May and from October to November
1. 104
2. 88
3. 116
4. 212
5. 305
6. 280
7. 231
8. 221
9. 267
10. 367
11. 384
12. 220

Long-term precipitation per month, mm. Rainy months: well above the place's own average (at least 100 mm); dry months: half the average or less, or under 60 mm.

Sri Lanka: rainy season, quick answers

Sri Lanka: when is the rainy season?

The rainy season lasts in May and from October to November. On average, 351 mm fall in November, the wettest month.

Sri Lanka: when is the dry season?

The driest months are February – March, with 68 mm on average in February.

Sri Lanka: when is the best time to avoid the rain?

February – March: dry months with good holiday weather at most destinations.

Sri Lanka: weather & best time to visit Rainy season: when is the dry season?

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences