MultiDayTourFinder

Sri Lanka in March: weather, festivals and where to go

By the MultiDayTourFinder team

Updated 15 October 2026 · 3 min read

A blue whale surfacing off Mirissa
Photo: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The short answer

Month
March
Verdict
Excellent
South and west coasts
Dry and hot
East coast
Mostly dry
Cultural Triangle
Dry and hot
Hill country
Dry

March is hot and dry, with the coasts at their calmest. It is the peak of the blue whale season in the south, and the east coast becomes an option towards the end of the month.

Where it is dry in March

Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so one coast is usually dry. The map opens on March; tap another month to compare.

Choose your month

North (Jaffna), March: Best✓North (Jaffna)Cultural Triangle, March: Best✓Cultural TriangleEast coast, March: Mixed~East coastWest coast, March: Best✓West coastHill country, March: Best✓Hill countrySouth coast, March: Best✓South coastYala, March: Best✓Yala

March

Dry and hot across most of the island; the east starts to dry out.

  • North (Jaffna) (best)
  • Cultural Triangle (best)Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa
  • West coast (best)Colombo, Negombo, Bentota
  • Hill country (best)Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella
  • South coast (best)Galle, Unawatuna, Mirissa
  • Yala (best)south east safari parks
  • East coast (mixed)Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay
Simplified map. Weather varies from year to year; the strip below shows every month at once.

March across the year

How March compares with the rest of the year in each region. The ringed column is March.

Swipe sideways to see all 12 months →

RegionJFMAMJJASOND
South and west coastsGalle, Mirissa, BentotaBestBestBestMixedWet or difficultWet or difficultMixedMixedMixedWet or difficultMixedBest
East coastTrincomalee, Arugam BayWet or difficultMixedMixedBestBestBestBestBestBestMixedWet or difficultWet or difficult
Cultural TriangleSigiriya, PolonnaruwaMixedBestBestMixedBestBestBestBestBestMixedWet or difficultWet or difficult
Hill countryKandy, Nuwara Eliya, EllaBestBestBestMixedMixedMixedMixedMixedMixedWet or difficultWet or difficultMixed
NorthJaffnaMixedBestBestBestBestBestBestBestBestMixedWet or difficultWet or difficult
Yalamain blocksBestBestBestBestBestBestBestBestWet or difficultWet or difficultMixedBest
BestMixedWet or difficultArugam Bay's surf season runs roughly April to October. Yala's main blocks closed from 14 September to 15 October in 2026; dates change each year.

Where to go in March

  • Mirissa: Peak whale season, often with calm seas.
  • The Cultural Triangle: Dry, but climb Sigiriya early to beat the heat.
  • Adam's Peak: Still in season, and quieter than January.

What to avoid in March

  • Midday climbs and long walks in the heat of the plains.

Festivals and events in March

  • Easter (some years): Celebrated by Sri Lanka's Christian community, especially around Negombo.

Weather in March

Average highs, lows and rainfall, with March highlighted.

Average daily high / low and monthly rainfall

MonthColombowest coastGallesouth coast, Mirissa is similarKandy500 mNuwara Eliya1,890 m, Ella is warmerSigiriyaCultural Triangle, dry zoneTrincomaleeeast coast
Jan31° / 23°60 mm30° / 23°95 mm28° / 18°120 mm20° / 9°140 mm29° / 21°100 mm27° / 23°180 mm
Feb31° / 23°70 mm30° / 23°80 mm30° / 18°70 mm21° / 9°70 mm31° / 21°50 mm28° / 23°80 mm
Mar32° / 24°130 mm31° / 24°130 mm31° / 19°100 mm22° / 10°90 mm33° / 22°80 mm30° / 24°50 mm
Apr32° / 25°250 mm31° / 25°240 mm31° / 21°190 mm22° / 12°170 mm34° / 24°180 mm32° / 25°50 mm
May31° / 26°380 mm30° / 26°350 mm30° / 22°150 mm21° / 13°200 mm33° / 25°70 mm34° / 26°60 mm
Jun30° / 26°190 mm29° / 25°210 mm28° / 22°130 mm18° / 14°290 mm32° / 25°15 mm34° / 26°30 mm
Jul30° / 25°130 mm29° / 25°140 mm28° / 21°130 mm18° / 14°250 mm32° / 25°25 mm34° / 26°50 mm
Aug30° / 25°110 mm29° / 25°130 mm28° / 21°120 mm18° / 13°200 mm32° / 24°30 mm33° / 25°90 mm
Sep30° / 25°160 mm29° / 25°240 mm28° / 21°150 mm19° / 12°180 mm33° / 24°60 mm33° / 25°100 mm
Oct30° / 24°370 mm29° / 24°350 mm28° / 20°280 mm20° / 12°250 mm32° / 23°250 mm31° / 24°210 mm
Nov30° / 24°310 mm29° / 24°280 mm28° / 20°260 mm20° / 11°240 mm30° / 22°280 mm29° / 23°360 mm
Dec30° / 23°150 mm29° / 23°170 mm28° / 19°200 mm20° / 10°200 mm29° / 21°220 mm28° / 23°360 mm

Rounded long term averages. Blue shading marks the wetter months. Individual years can be hotter, colder or wetter.

A 10 day trip for March

Our suggestion for March: Sigiriya, Kandy, Ella, Yala and Mirissa for whale watching. Every trip can be made private and changed to suit your dates, or try your own route in our trip planner.

Tip: Book a whale watching boat with a responsible operator that keeps its distance.

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Other months

Thinking about February or April? See Sri Lanka in February and Sri Lanka in April, or compare every season in our guide to the best time to visit Sri Lanka.

Rather have a trip to Sri Lanka made just for you?

Answer a few quick questions and a local specialist will send you a free, no-obligation itinerary and price.

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Frequently asked questions

Is March good for whale watching in Sri Lanka?

Yes, it is usually the best month off Mirissa, with calm seas and frequent blue whale sightings.

Sources we checked

Sri Lanka month by month

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

More Sri Lanka guides

When to go

Best time to visit Sri Lanka: the two monsoons explained

Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so somewhere is always dry. December to March is best for the south and west coasts and the hill country; May to September for the east coast and the north.

Updated 15 October 2026
Itineraries

Sri Lanka itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days

Seven days covers Sigiriya, Kandy and Ella. Ten adds Yala and the south coast, and fourteen slows the pace with Nuwara Eliya, Galle and more beach time. From May to September, swap the south coast for the east.

Updated 15 October 2026
Practical tips

Kandy to Ella train: what is running now, tickets and seats

Since Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025 the hill country line has reopened in stages. Nanu Oya to Ella is running again, but trains cannot yet run from Kandy. Here is what is open, and how to still ride the best part.

Updated 15 October 2026
Costs and budgets

Sri Lanka entrance fees for 2026 and 2027, with a cost calculator

Entry fees for foreigners add up fast: Sigiriya alone is about US$35, and the Cultural Triangle sites together cost around US$100. Tick the places on your list to see your total.

Updated 15 October 2026
Best time to visit Sri Lanka →Best beaches by month →Sri Lanka itineraries →