Sri Lanka in February: weather, where to go and what to wear

February is the last month of the northeast monsoon, and by now it has very little left to give. The south and west coasts get the most sunshine of the year, the dry zone of the north-central plains and the national parks are parched and easy to explore, and towards the end of the month even the east coast begins to clear. It is still high season, as in January, so the dressing question is about strong sun, dusty safari mornings and one very Sri Lankan night out: a perahera in the middle of Colombo.

Colombo day

31°C

Colombo night

23°C

Rain (Colombo)

~74 mm

Sunshine

9 hrs/day

What the weather is really like in February

The Department of Meteorology counts February as the final month of the northeast monsoon, before the first inter-monsoon season begins in March. Its rain falls mainly on the east and north, and by February it is light and patchy. In the southwest, which gets its rain from the other monsoon, this is one of the sunniest and most settled times of the year.

Colombo sees about 31°C by day and 23°C at night, around nine hours of sunshine a day and roughly 74 mm of rain, usually in short showers on four or five days. The sea is a warm 28°C. The air is still humid, and the sun is high and strong, so sun protection matters more than rain gear on the coast.

In the hills, nights stay cold: Nuwara Eliya has days of around 20°C and nights of about 10°C, much like January. The dry zone, from Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa down to Yala, gets hotter and dustier as the month goes on, which helps with wildlife spotting as animals gather near water.

Region by region

Where to go in February

February rewards a classic loop with a safari added. Spend the early mornings at Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa, head up into the tea country for cool nights, then come down to Udawalawe or Yala for elephants and leopards before finishing on the south coast. Whale-watching boats from Mirissa are in their December-to-April season, and the calm seas make February one of the more comfortable months to go out.

What to wear in February

For a safari

Jeep safaris start before sunrise, when the open jeep is surprisingly cold, and by mid-morning the sun is fierce, so dress in layers. Choose khaki, olive, beige or brown: they show the dust less and are less distracting to the animals than bright colours or white. A loose long-sleeved shirt keeps off both sun and insects, a hat with a brim is essential in an open vehicle, and a scarf or buff helps on dusty tracks. Closed shoes are better than sandals if you climb in and out of the jeep.

For strong sun on the coast

With nine hours of sunshine a day, cover up rather than relying on sunscreen alone: a light long-sleeved shirt over swimwear, a wide-brimmed hat and good sunglasses. Keep swimwear for the beach, and put on a shirt or tie on a sarong in town, in shops and in restaurants.

Temple dress code and the Navam Perahera

At Buddhist temples, including the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes and hat before you enter. Visitors in shorts or sleeveless tops can be refused entry. The UK Foreign Office travel advice also warns against posing for photos with your back to a Buddha statue. Our November guide covers kovils and mosques.

The Navam Perahera is Gangaramaya Temple's procession through central Colombo, around Beira Lake, with drummers, dancers and decorated elephants. It usually runs over two nights around Navam Poya: in 2026 it was held on 31 January and 1 February. The temple has not announced the 2027 dates yet. Dress as you would for a temple, in light, modest clothes, wear comfortable shoes for standing, and see our January guide for perahera etiquette. Roads around the route close in the evening, so plan taxis accordingly.

Festivals and holidays in February 2027

• Independence Day — Thursday 4 February. A public holiday marking independence in 1948, with a national ceremony and parade and flags across the country. Expect some road closures in Colombo and closed government offices.
• Navam Full Moon Poya — Saturday 20 February. It commemorates the appointment of the Buddha's two chief disciples. Temples are busy with people in white, sales of alcohol and meat are banned for the day, and many bars close.
• The Navam Perahera at Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo — usually around Navam Poya. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet.

These 2027 dates come from published holiday calendars. Poya dates are approved by the government each year, so check them against the official calendar before you plan around them.

February packing list

• 4–6 loose cotton or linen tops, including one or two long-sleeved shirts for sun
• Neutral-coloured shirt and trousers in khaki, olive or beige for safaris
• Light trousers or long skirts that work for temples, plus shorts for the beach
• A white or light-coloured outfit for Poya and the Navam Perahera
• A sarong or large scarf for temple cover-ups, beach wraps and dusty jeeps
• A warm fleece or jumper, socks and long trousers for the hills
• Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
• Sandals you can slip off, and closed shoes for safaris and walks
• Swimwear and a cover-up