Sri Lanka in February: Weather, Festivals and Where to Go

If you could pick one month for a first trip to Sri Lanka, February would be a strong candidate. It’s often the driest month on the south-west coast, the north-east monsoon is easing off in the east, and Colombo puts on one of its biggest street processions. The beaches, the hills and the ancient cities are all in good shape at once, which isn’t true for much of the year.

The catch: everyone else knows this too, so book early.

The weather in February

The long-term averages (1991–2020) show how dry the south-west can be. At Galle, February averages about 71 mm of rain, against about 316 mm in May. That’s the whole stretch of coast from Colombo through Bentota and Hikkaduwa to Mirissa and Tangalle in its best season, which runs from December to March.

Inland, the western hill country around Kandy and Nuwara Eliya is dry too, with chilly nights; Nuwara Eliya records ground frost on a few days in January and February. The ancient cities around Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa are past their wet season, which ends in December, so you can climb in sunshine. Start early, because the plains are hot by mid-morning.

The north-east monsoon, from December to February, is winding down. The east coast, from Trincomalee to Arugam Bay, and the north around Jaffna are still at the end of their wet season, and the eastern hills around Ella can still be cloudy. February is better for the east than December or January, but the east coast’s real season starts later in the year.

Festivals and holidays in February 2027

• Independence Day, Thursday 4 February. A public holiday. In 2026 it was also on the Excise Department’s list of dry days, when liquor shops and bars close; check the 2027 list nearer the time.
• Navam Poya, Saturday 20 February. A Poya holiday and dry day; meat isn’t sold.
• The Navam Maha Perahera. Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo has announced its Navam Perahera, a procession that circles Beira Lake, for 19 and 20 February 2027. If you’re in Colombo that weekend, it’s worth planning an evening around.

Our festival and Poya calendar has the whole year’s dates.

Good things to do in February

• Whales off Mirissa. Well inside the season, which Sri Lanka Tourism gives as November to April. See our whale-watching guide.
• Surf. Surf schools on the south coast report January and February as their peak months. Expect company in the water at Weligama and Hiriketiya.
• Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak). The pilgrimage season runs from December to May, and Sri Lanka Tourism says January to March is particularly busy. Climb on a weekday and avoid Navam Poya and the weekend around it. Our guide to climbing Sri Pada at night has the details.
• Wilpattu. Sri Lanka Tourism gives February to October as the best period for Wilpattu National Park, so February is the start of its season.
• Galle Fort, Colombo and the south-west. Dry weather suits walking the ramparts at Galle Fort and a day exploring Colombo.

Planning tips

February is peak season on the south and west coasts, so book rooms, and especially the hill-country train, well ahead. Reserved train seats go on sale 30 days before the day of travel on the official Sri Lanka Railways site. Trains between Nanu Oya, Haputale and Ella have run again since June 2026; for the rest of the line, see the travel update at the top of this page.

For a first trip in February, our 7 days in Sri Lanka and 14 days in Sri Lanka routes both suit the season. If you’re deciding between months, our guide to the best time to visit Sri Lanka compares them.

Header photo: dronepicr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Last checked 20 October 2026