Vanakkam! (வணக்கம்!) If you are searching for the Sri Lanka calendar April 2026, you have come at the right time, because April is the busiest and most exciting month on the island’s calendar. It carries a Poya day, Good Friday, and the biggest celebration of the year, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. In Tamil, this festival is called புத்தாண்டு (Puthandu), and in Sinhala it is Aluth Avurudu. This guide lays out every holiday date, the official auspicious times, and simple planning tips so you can enjoy the month without any last-minute confusion.
Quick Look: Sri Lanka Holidays in April 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Tamil / Local Name | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2026 | Wednesday | Bak Full Moon Poya Day | பாக் பௌய | Public, Bank & Mercantile |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | புனித வெள்ளி | Public & Bank |
| April 13, 2026 | Monday | Day Before Sinhala & Tamil New Year | புத்தாண்டு தினத்திற்கு முந்தைய நாள் | Public, Bank & Mercantile |
| April 14, 2026 | Tuesday | Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day | புத்தாண்டு நாள் | Public, Bank & Mercantile |
Four official holidays fall in April 2026, but because two of them sit next to a weekend, the actual break you get can feel much longer, as we will explain below.
Download and Save This Sri Lanka Calendar April 2026
Want to keep these dates and auspicious times handy without searching again? Use your browser’s “Print” option and choose “Save as PDF” to download a clean, printable copy of this Sri Lanka calendar for April 2026, perfect for your office notice board, family planner, or travel folder. You can also add April 1, April 3, April 13, and April 14 directly into Google Calendar, Outlook, or your phone so you get a reminder before each holiday and before the New Year’s auspicious times begin. Bookmark this page as well, since we review and update it whenever the government issues any amendment to the gazette or the Nekath Seettuwa.
Bak Full Moon Poya Day – April 1, 2026 (Wednesday)
Bak Poya, or பாக் பௌய in Tamil, marks the Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka, when he is believed to have settled a dispute between two rival chiefs. It is a public, bank, and mercantile holiday, so government offices, schools, and most businesses close for the day.
Like every Poya day, the sale of meat and alcohol is restricted, and many Buddhists visit temples, observe sil, and spend the day in quiet reflection rather than loud celebration.
A useful tip: Since Bak Poya falls on a Wednesday, some people take April 2 (Thursday) as an extra leave day. Combined with the weekend, that turns into a five-day stretch from April 1 to April 5, which is a popular window for a short beach trip to the south coast or a hill-country escape before the busier New Year season begins.
Good Friday and Easter – April 3 and 5, 2026
Good Friday, observed by Sri Lanka’s Christian community, falls on Friday, April 3, 2026. It is a gazetted public and bank holiday, so most offices and schools close. Easter Sunday follows two days later on April 5, though since it lands on a regular Sunday, it does not add an extra public holiday to the calendar. Churches across the island, especially in Negombo and the western coastal belt, hold special services during this Holy Week.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year – April 13 and 14, 2026
This is the heart of the Sri Lanka calendar April 2026, and arguably the most important two days of the entire Sri Lankan year. Known as Aluth Avurudu in Sinhala and புத்தாண்டு (Puthandu) in Tamil, it marks the sun’s move from Meena Rashiya (Pisces) to Mesha Rashiya (Aries), celebrated together by both Sinhalese and Tamil communities regardless of religion.
- Monday, April 13, 2026 – Day before the New Year. Many families take a ritual oil bath, clean the house, and spend the day in quiet preparation.
- Tuesday, April 14, 2026 – New Year’s Day. According to the officially released Nekath Seettuwa (table of auspicious times), the New Year dawns at 9:32 AM.
Official Avurudu Nekath (Auspicious Times) for 2026
These times are calculated by state astrologers and released by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. Households across the island follow them closely.
- Punya Kalaya (neutral period): April 14, 3:08 AM to 3:56 PM – a time for religious observance, with no work or cooking
- Hearth lighting and meal preparation: April 14, around 10:51 AM – facing south, dressed in red, families light the hearth and prepare milk rice (kiribath)
- Start of work, transactions, and first meal: April 14, around 12:06 PM – the first business transaction of the year, even something as small as exchanging a coin, is considered important
- Oil anointing ceremony: April 15, around 6:55 AM – herbal oil is applied for health and blessings, marking the close of the festival’s main rituals
Since these auspicious times are fixed by astrological calculation each year, it is always a good idea to confirm the final Nekath Seettuwa published closer to April 2026, as very minor adjustments are sometimes announced.
New Year Traditions Worth Knowing
- Sharing kiribath (milk rice) with jaggery as the first meal of the year
- Giving children new clothes and money in envelopes
- Elders receiving respect through traditional greetings
- Traditional games such as tug-of-war, pillow fights on a greased pole, and kite flying
- Visiting relatives, especially in home villages outside the main cities
A Four-Day Weekend: April 11 to April 14, 2026
Here is the long weekend to plan around. Since the New Year holidays fall on Monday and Tuesday, they connect directly to the weekend before:
- Saturday, April 11 – regular weekend
- Sunday, April 12 – regular weekend
- Monday, April 13 – Day before New Year
- Tuesday, April 14 – New Year’s Day
That gives most workers a four-day break. In practice, many offices and shops in Sri Lanka stay closed informally for several more days around this period, since staff often travel to their home villages, so it is wise to expect slower service at banks, government offices, and even some restaurants until around April 16 or 17.
Bank, Public, and Mercantile Holidays Explained
Sri Lanka’s holidays fall into three linked categories. Public holidays apply nationwide under the Holidays Act, closing government offices and schools. Bank holidays apply to the banking sector, with all Saturdays and Sundays counted automatically. Mercantile holidays apply to private shops and offices under the Shop and Office Employees Act, with extra pay or a substitute day required if staff must work. All four April 2026 holidays fall under all three categories, which is one reason the New Year period feels like such a complete, island-wide shutdown.
Planning Tips for April 2026 in Sri Lanka
If you are traveling: April is peak domestic travel season in Sri Lanka, since almost everyone heads home for the New Year. Roads get busy, especially from April 10 onward, and train and bus tickets sell out fast. If you are a visitor, book accommodation and transport well ahead, and note that some smaller shops and restaurants outside Colombo may close for several days around April 13–17.
If you run a business: Plan payroll and rosters around April 1, 3, 13, and 14 early. Many mercantile staff expect a longer informal break, so confirm your office’s exact reopening date with your team in advance.
If you are a student or parent: Schools follow the national holidays on April 1, 3, 13, and 14. Many schools also schedule their term-end holidays to overlap with this period, so it is worth checking your specific school’s calendar.
If you want to join the celebrations: Visiting a Sri Lankan village during Avurudu is one of the best cultural experiences on the island. Traditional games, open-air feasts, and community bonfires are common, and visitors are usually welcomed warmly.
Weather Snapshot for April in Sri Lanka
April sits at the start of the first inter-monsoon period, so expect warm, humid days with a higher chance of short afternoon showers than in February or March, especially in the hill country and the west. The dry southern and southwestern coasts, including Mirissa and Bentota, generally stay pleasant for beach visits early in the month, while Kandy and Nuwara Eliya can feel cooler and greener as rains build up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is April 14, 2026 a public holiday in Sri Lanka? Yes. April 14, 2026 is Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day, a public, bank, and mercantile holiday observed nationwide, along with April 13, the day before the New Year.
What time does the Sinhala and Tamil New Year begin in 2026? According to the official Nekath Seettuwa, the New Year dawns on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 9:32 AM.
How many public holidays fall in April 2026? There are four gazetted holidays: Bak Full Moon Poya Day on April 1, Good Friday on April 3, the Day before the New Year on April 13, and New Year’s Day on April 14.
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday in Sri Lanka? No. Good Friday is the gazetted public holiday. Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, falls on a regular Sunday and is not a separate public holiday.
Do businesses stay closed for the whole New Year week? Officially, only April 13 and 14 are gazetted holidays, but many businesses, especially outside Colombo, extend their closures informally for several more days as staff travel to their home towns.