This is our list of Sri Lankan holidays for 2014. What we’ve added is to note the seven long weekends this year, as well as the nine almost long weekends, when you can take a day off and get an extra long vacation.
We’ve also noted whether holidays are Bank (B), Public (P) or Mercantile (M). In case you don’t know exactly what this means (we didn’t), bank holidays are just for banks, public holidays are for banks and government but not necessarily private companies, and mercantile holidays are for all of the above plus private companies. Note that in Sri Lanka most companies give public holidays off, including Poyas.
The best month for holidays remains April, which has both Avurudu and Good Friday. Avurudu is technically only two days (one on a weekend), but most Sri Lankans end up taking the whole week off. The worst months for holidays are March and August, which have none that fall on a weekday.
You can download or copy the iCal link here: http://goo.gl/VvR47w.
Anyways, here you go. Happy Holidays.
| JANUARY | Day | Holiday | Type | Long Weekend? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tue | Thai Pongal | PBM | Almost |
| 14 | Tue | Holy Prophet’s Birthday | PBM | Almost |
| 15 | Wed | Duruthu Poya | PB | |
| FEBRUARY | ||||
| 4 | Tue | National Day | PBM | Almost |
| 14 | Fri | Navam Poya | PB | YES |
| 27 | Thu | Maha Sivarathri | PB | Almost |
| MARCH | ||||
| 16 | Sun | Medin Poya | PB | |
| APRIL | ||||
| 13 | Sun | Day before Sri Lankan New Year | PBM | |
| 14 | Mon | Sri Lankan New Year | PBM | YES |
| 14 | Mon | Bak Poya | PB | YES |
| 18 | Fri | Good Friday | PB | YES |
| MAY | ||||
| 1 | Thu | May Day | PBM | Almost |
| 14 | Wed | Wesak Poya | PB | Almost |
| 15 | Thu | Day After Wesak | PBM | Almost |
| JUNE | ||||
| 12 | Thu | Poson Poya | PB | Almost |
| JULY | ||||
| 12 | Sat | Esala Poya | PB | |
| 29 | Tue | Ramazan | PB | Almost |
| AUGUST | ||||
| 10 | Sun | Nikini Poya | PB | |
| SEPTEMBER | ||||
| 8 | Mon | Binara Poya | PB | YES |
| OCTOBER | ||||
| 5 | Sun | Hadji | PB | |
| 8 | Wed | Vap Poya | PB | |
| 22 | Wed | Deepavali | PB | |
| NOVEMBER | ||||
| 6 | Thu | Il Poya | PB | |
| DECEMBER | ||||
| 6 | Sat | Unduvap Poya | PB | |
| 25 | Thu | Christmas | PBM | Almost |
