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

March is the month Sri Lanka turns up the heat. The northeast monsoon of February is over, so for a few weeks both coasts can be sunny at once: the south and west are still in their dry season, and the east coast is drying out and opening up for the year. In exchange, it is one of the hottest and most humid times of year, and by late March afternoon thunderstorms start to return in the southwest. Dressing is about heat first, with four festivals of different faiths to plan around.

Colombo day

32°C

Colombo night

24°C

Rain (Colombo)

~136 mm

Sea

29°C

What the weather is really like in March

The Department of Meteorology counts March and April as the first inter-monsoon season, the gap between the northeast and southwest monsoons. With no steady monsoon wind, the sun heats the land, and the typical pattern is hot, humid mornings followed by thunderstorms that build in the afternoon, most often in the southwest and the hill country. Early March is usually still settled; the storms become more frequent as April approaches.

Colombo averages about 32°C by day and 24°C at night, around nine hours of sunshine a day, and roughly 136 mm of rain over about nine days, usually as short afternoon showers. The sea is at its warmest, around 29°C. On the east coast Trincomalee is about 31°C and much drier, with roughly 56 mm of rain on about four days, which is why the east starts to come into season now.

The hill country is the relief from the heat. Nuwara Eliya and Ella are warm and pleasant by day, with cool rather than cold nights, and March is one of the drier months there before the April storms.

Region by region

Where to go in March

March is a rare month when you can combine the west and the east. A classic route of Sigiriya, Kandy and the hill country can finish either on the south coast, where whale-watching boats from Mirissa are still in their December-to-April season, or across on the east coast around Trincomalee and Pasikudah, which are quieter and calmer than in high season. Plan the Cultural Triangle for early mornings: by late morning the rock at Sigiriya and the stone of the ancient cities are very hot.

What to wear in March

For the heat

This is the month when fabric matters most. Loose cotton and linen let the air move; polyester, denim and anything tight will be uncomfortable within minutes. Light colours reflect the sun, and a loose long-sleeved shirt is often cooler than a T-shirt in direct sun because it keeps the sun off your skin. Pack enough tops to change once a day, as you will sweat through them, and carry a refillable water bottle.

For afternoon storms

Late-March storms are short, heavy and warm. A compact umbrella, which also works as a sunshade, is more useful than a rain jacket, and sandals that can get wet are better than trainers. Plan indoor sights or a long lunch for the afternoons in the southwest and the hills.

Dress code for March's festivals

March 2027 brings Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian holidays within a few weeks. The rule at every one is the same: cover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes and hat at temples, kovils and mosques. At Buddhist temples, including the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, visitors in shorts or sleeveless tops can be refused entry, and the UK Foreign Office travel advice warns against posing for photos with your back to a Buddha statue. Our November guide has more on kovils and mosques, including kovils where men remove their shirts.

• Maha Shivaratri — Saturday 6 March. A Hindu festival in honour of Shiva, when devotees fast and keep an all-night vigil at kovils. If you visit a kovil, dress modestly and follow the dress rules at the entrance.
• Ramazan Festival Day (Eid al-Fitr) — Wednesday 10 March, at the end of Ramadan. Mosques are busy, and Muslim families visit relatives in their best clothes. Women should cover their hair, arms and legs if they visit a mosque.
• Medin Full Moon Poya — Monday 22 March. It marks the Buddha's visit to his father's kingdom after his enlightenment. Temples are crowded with people in white, sales of alcohol and meat are banned for the day, and many bars close.
• Good Friday — Friday 26 March. A public holiday for Sri Lanka's Christians, with services and Holy Week processions at churches, especially along the west coast around Negombo. Dress as you would for a temple.

These 2027 dates are from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka's 2027 holiday list.

March packing list

• 6–8 loose cotton or linen tops: you will want to change once a day
• One or two loose long-sleeved shirts for sun protection
• Light trousers or long skirts that work for temples, plus shorts for the beach
• A sarong or large scarf for temple cover-ups and beach wraps
• A light jacket or jumper for hill-country evenings
• Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
• A compact umbrella, for sun and late-month storms
• Sandals you can slip off and that can get wet
• Swimwear and a cover-up
• A refillable water bottle