Visiting Sri Lanka in May

Sri Lanka weather guide by month

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The southwest – or Yala – monsoon arrives this month, starting the rainy season in the south and west of Sri Lanka. Definitely not the best time to visit the beaches on this coast, with conditions making it too dangerous to swim at some locations, plus high humidity and lots of rain in Colombo and Galle.

It’s still dry and hot around the Cultural Triangle but it’s becoming rainier in the Hill Country as well, so expect showers if you’re planning any treks. This is the last month to attempt scaling Adam’s Peak until the monsoon passes.

It’s one of the top times for a holiday in Sri Lanka’s north and east coast though, including colourful Jaffna where you can discover Sri Lanka’s Tamil heritage and culture, with Hindu temples as well as its old fort. For beach time, head to Trincomalee, where you’ll find secluded stretches of coast outside the bustling vibrant town, or the laid-back beach at Pasikudah, just outside Batticaloa with its colonial history. Surfers should head down to Arugam Bay.

And if you’re hoping to see Sri Lanka’s wildlife, it’s a great month to visit Wilpattu National Park as the fruit ripens on the palu trees this month. The usually shy sloth bears love to feast on these, so it’s one of the best times to spot them. Yala National Park is another tempting option, far enough east to miss the rain and with elephant calves and leopard cubs making their first appearances. There’s also some fantastic whale-watching around Trincomalee this month.

Festivals: Buddhists celebrate the Vesak Poya this month, a two-day festival marking Buddha’s birth, death and enlightenment.

Best for: East coast beaches, Jaffna, wildlife at Wilpattu and Yala National Park, whale-watching at Trincomalee

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 🌤️