Sri Lanka Hotels and Resorts

WOMAD Sri Lanka Festival of Drums is definitely one of the highlights in our tourism calendar for 2005, and we are excited to offer international travellers another excellent reason to visit our island.

Some of the world's most talented master drummers and percussionists will be gathering in Sri Lanka in March next year for the first-ever WOMAD (World of Music Arts and Dance) Sri Lanka Festival of Drums, celebrating the island's association with drums, going back over 2,500 years.

The festival will showcase 14 performance groups from 12 countries in Colombo, Kandy & Galle.

Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day) - Friday, November 04, 2005 - Friday, November 04, 2005

Deepavali Festival Day - Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Deepawali or Diwali is a festival of lights symbolising the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word `Deepawali' literally means rows of clay lamps.

Kataragama Festival

The Kataragama festival is another of the major Esala Festivals. Kataragama in the South-East corner of the island is a jungle shrine dedicated to God Skanda and is a popular pilgrim centre for Buddhists and Hindus. Fre walking and the annual perahera in July/August are some of its highlights.

Esala Perahera (Kandy) - Thursday, August 11, 2005 - Friday, August 19, 2005

Esala (July/August) is the seasons of festivals in Sri Lanka and the full moon day of Esala is the climax of some of the festivals. The most magnificent of these festivals is the Kandy Esala Perahera. A spectacular medieval day pageant is held for 10 nights climaxing with the Kandyan dancers and drummers in colourful traditional costumes. Kandyan Chieftains in medieval court dress, more than one hundred caparisoned elephants whip crackers, torch bearers etc., make it an unforgettable experience.

Scheduled dates of the Kandy perahera 2004 is as follows:-

• 22nd to 26th July 2004 – Kumbal Perahera

• 27th to 30th July 2004 – Randoli Perahera

• 31st July 2004 – Maha Perahera

• 1st August 2004 – Day Perahera

Poson Full Moon Day - Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Poson, the full-moon festival commemorates the advent of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C. the day is celebrated with religious observances. The centre of festivities is at Mihintale (about 10km) from Anuradhapura where the Buddhist doctrine was first preached by Arahat Mahinda, son of the great Emperor Asoka of India. Apart from religious festivals there are illuminations and decorations and processions in various parts of the island.

Mihintale, The centre of festivities.

Vesak Full Moon Poya Day - Monday, May 23, 2005 - Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Vesak is a thrice blessed day for Buddhists throughout the world. It commemorates the birth of the Prince Siddhartha, his attaining enlightenment and passing away into Nibbana as Gauthama Buddha. It is a day of great sanctity devoted to religious observances and charity. The day is also celebrated with festivity with numerous colourful decorations and illuminations, pandals and pageants. Wayside stalls distribute food and refreshments to the pilgrims and passers by.

May Day - Sunday, May 01, 2005 - Sunday, May 01, 2005

May Day is celebrated with parades and rallies organised by the Trade Unions to mark the international worker's day.

Sinhala & Tamil New Year (celebrated throughout the island) - Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - Thursday, April 14, 2005

The two main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese and Tamils celebrate a common traditional New Year in the month of April originally harvesting thanks giving. This marks the passage of the sun from Pisces to Aries. Traditional customs are observed on this day with merrymaking and fun and games and lavish hospitality.

Maha Sivarathri Day - Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Nawam Full Moon Poya Day (Perahera in Colombo) - Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - Wednesday, February 23, 2005

A colourful traditional perahera organized by Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo parades the city streets for two nights. Dancers, elephants, whip crackers make it an unforgettable event.


Independence Day - Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - Wednesday, February 04, 2004
This day commemorates the granting of independence to Sri Lanka by the British on 4th February 1948. It is a great patriotic and national occasion celebrated with colourful parades and pageants achievements.


Id-Ul-Alha (Hadji Festival) - Friday, January 21, 2005 - Friday, January 21, 2005



Tamil Thai Pongal Day - Friday, January 14, 2005 - Friday, January 14, 2005



Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day - Monday, January 24, 2005 - Monday, January 24, 2005