Climate

The close proximity of Sri Lanka to the equator means that the country receives plenty of sunlight throughout the year. While some areas in the country have very distinctive dry and wet seasons, other areas have a warm tropical weather throughout the year. The average temperature of the country usually ranges from 28 – 32 degrees Celsius. However, the central parts of Sri Lanka experience much lower temperatures which even go down to 10 degrees Celsius. Jaffna and the Batticaloa areas in the northern part and the east coast of the country experience very warm temperatures. The island nature of the country means that ocean winds blow across its coastal belts, making them cooler and less humid. The warmest months if the year are generally from April to August, while December to January is much cooler. Rain is welcomed to the island during two monsoons, the northwestern and the southeastern. However, these weather patterns have shown significant changes during the last few years due to the impacts of Global Climate Change.

One of the unique aspects of Sri Lanka is the climate variations along its different geographical regions that are situated in close distance to each other. Just a few hours of driving could land you in an area with a completely different climate from your departure destination.