Visiting Sri Lanka in January

Sri Lanka weather guide by month

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

 

January is one of the best months for a holiday in Sri Lanka, with dry warm weather across most of the south and west coast for a beach holiday at Tangalle or Unawatuna, as well as to visit the ancient cities and historic sites of the Cultural Triangle or Kandy.

It’s also hot and dry around the national parks at Yala and Udawalawe, so it’s perfect for sighting the animals as they gather around water holes, although Yala can be busy this month. If you head to the south coast, it’s a good time to see whales, or for exploring the rainforest at Sinharaja National Park.

Want to go trekking, or simply to escape the heat for a few days? It’s cooler in the hills and Tea Country around Nuwara Eliya thanks to the higher altitude, so a perfect month for exploring Ella or climbing Adam’s Peak.

While the north-east monsoon is still affecting the east coast, it’s also less rainy here than in previous months if you’re planning to visit Trincomalee.

Festivals: Galle Literary festival takes place in late January or early February, with a string of extra events including an art trail, food showcase and children’s festival.

Best for: South coast beaches, exploring the historic sites, whale watching, trekking

Region	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
North / East	● 28°C 🌤️	● 29°C 🌤️	● 31°C 🌤️	● 33°C ☀️	● 35°C ☀️	● 35°C ☀️	● 35°C ☀️	● 34°C ☀️	● 34°C ☀️	● 32°C 🌦️	● 29°C 🌦️	● 28°C 🌦️
Central	● 19°C ☀️	● 21°C ☀️	● 22°C 🌤️	● 22°C 🌦️	● 21°C 🌦️	● 19°C 🌤️	● 19°C 🌤️	● 19°C 🌤️	● 20°C 🌤️	● 20°C 🌧️	● 20°C 🌧️	● 20°C 🌦️
South / West	● 30°C ☀️	● 30°C ☀️	● 31°C ☀️	● 31°C ☀️	● 30°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌧️	● 29°C 🌤️