Approximately 70% of the population in Sri Lanka follows Buddhism, and as a result, the majority of public holidays in 2026 are rooted in Buddhist traditions. In addition to Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity are widely practiced across different regions of the country. As a mark of respect for religious diversity, the Sri Lankan government continues to include key religious holidays of these faiths in the official public holiday calendar each year.
One of the most significant Buddhist observances recognized as national holidays is the Full Moon Poya Day, which occurs once every month. On each Full Moon Poya Day, employees are entitled to a paid holiday, while banks, government institutions, and most organizations remain closed, amounting to 12 Poya holidays in 2026.
Apart from Poya Days, several other important national and religious holidays are observed in Sri Lanka. These include National Day, Labour Day, New Year’s Day, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Thai Pongal, Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Milad-un-Nabi), Mahasivarathri, Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha, and Christmas Day.
While some of these holidays are declared as public, bank, and mercantile holidays, others apply only to the public and banking sectors, with the private and corporate sectors continuing normal operations. In such cases, leave for religious or cultural celebrations is generally granted at the discretion of the employer.
Below is the detailed list of Sri Lankan public holidays for 2026, including the date of each holiday, the occasion, and the sectors that remain closed on those days.
