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Travelling in Sri Lanka in April

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Sri Lanka is under the influence of the Monsoon. The weather pattern of the island mainly depends on the impact of the Monsoon. Depending on Monsoon the Sri Lanka has two monsoons, namely, the northeast monsoon and the southwest monsoon. The monsoon mainly regulates the rainfall and when the monsoon wind hit the island it brings heavy rainfall along with it. However, only a part of the island comes under heavy rain. During the northeast monsoon northeast sri Lanka gets heavy rainfall while southwest Sri Lanka gets a lot of rain during the southwest monsoon.

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Travelling in Sri Lanka in April

“When is the best time to travel to Sri Lanka?”, ” Is travelling in Sri Lanka in April recommended?”. 2 questions are asked by a large number of foreign travellers. If someone asks the same question to me, I would like to say, the best time to travel to Sri Lanka is from November to April, the 6 months parallel to the dry weather on the southern and western coast of Sri Lanka. April marks the end of the peak holiday season in Sri Lanka, during which a large number of foreign travellers arrive in the country.

Peak holiday season Sri Lanka

November to April, 6 months is the peak holiday season in Sri Lanka. More than 75% of foreign travellers arrive on the island during this period. However, you can travel to Sri Lanka during the rest of the year, from April to November.

Low season In Sri Lanka

low season in Sri Lanka or the off-peak holiday season in Sri Lanka starts in the month of April with reducing the number of foreign travellers. foreign travellers start to decrease while most airline and charter flight operators also reduce their flights to the island with the reducing holidaymakers. During the low season in Sri Lanka the beach resorts along the southwest coast bit suitable for beach holidays due to the rough sea. Furthermore, the travellers see gloomy, and rainy weather over the southwest coastal areas during this period.

Monsoon & weather pattern

Sri Lanka is under the influence of the Monsoon. The weather pattern of the island mainly depends on the impact of the Monsoon. Depending on Monsoon the Sri Lanka has two monsoons, namely, the northeast monsoon and the southwest monsoon. The monsoon mainly regulates the rainfall and when the monsoon wind hit the island it brings heavy rainfall along with it. However, only a part of the island comes under heavy rain. During the northeast monsoon northeast sri Lanka gets heavy rainfall while southwest Sri Lanka gets a lot of rain during the southwest monsoon.

The month of April marks the changing of weather patterns. Starting from April the rainfall on the east coast starts to decrease while rainfall on the southwest coast starts to accelerate. The condition of the sea also changes rapidly with the monsoon wind, eg, the sea gets rough making it not suitable for saltwater-based activities during the monsoon. However, when the monsoon is absent the sea can be used for diving, snorkelling, fishing, boating, swimming and all other activities.

If you look for a beach holiday, it is quite understandable that you like to have bright, sunny weather. Therefore, it is advised to choose a beach holiday destination after considering the weather pattern, thereby, you can avoid torrential rain.

If you like to have a complete picture of Sri Lanka’s weather and how to plan your Sri Lanka trip accordingly, please check my article “Sri Lanka weather pattern and Sri Lanka holiday“.

Weather in April

The weather in April is still dry, warm and sunny. therefore, April is very suitable for outdoor activities and the sea off the southwest coast is suitable for beach holidays. Generally, April is a dry month, and most Sri Lankan cities have dry weather. Most importantly the areas, where the tourists roam such as cultural cities, mountains, the southern coast and the west coast have dry weather. However, the weather on the east coast beaches such as Trincomalee, Nilaveli, and Pasikuda can be wet and not suitable for beach holidays.

Useful reading

Special celebration in April

April considered being the most beautiful month on the island of Sri Lanka. The month marks the start of New Year according to the solar calendar or Tamil, Sinhalese New Year. The new year celebration is an important event and is celebrated throughout the island. April is considered a very colourful month as most flowering plants start to produce flowers in the month of April. April is considered one of the best periods of the year to taste delicious seasonal fruits on the island such as Durian, mangosteen, and Mango.

New year Celebration

The celebration takes place throughout the island and dates back more than 2,000 years. For the Sri Lankans April is the month of revival, rebirth, rejuvenation and rebirth.  This is the time of harvesting crops and storing the bountiful harvest. The beginning of the year is marked in harmony with Mother Nature.

This solar calendar-based event is considered one of the oldest folk festivals in the world. The event is revolving around the movements of the sun and the other planets in the solar systems. The movement of the sun to the first zodiac of the system marks the beginning of the New Year.

The celebration can last for a period of five days to over a week, which is mainly decided by the various customs and rituals. It is believed that the beginning of Sinhala, Tamil New Year is closely related to the harvest festival, which marks the gathering of the harvest of the crops or the most important point of the production cycle. The event is closely observing the astrological phases of the sun.

In the solar calendar, the sun is moving through all twelve zodiac signs within a year. The month of April marks the ending of such a journey of the sun and marks the beginning of a New Year.

Unlike other New Year celebrations ending the old year is followed by a Nonagatha (inauspicious time). During this time the sun is in limbo, according to astrology. This period lasts a few hours before starting the New Year and time is made use of in religious activities. The inauspicious time is not used to engage in essential activities.

According to astrology, Meena Rashi (Pisces) is the last zodiac sign that the sun passes its way to the new beginning. Moving the sun to Mesha Rashi (Aries) marks the beginning of the New Year. Sinhalese and Tamils welcome the New Year with traditional customs. Like in many old civilizations Sri Lankan uses fire to mark the beginning of the New Year.

Sri Lankans starts to make all the preparation to welcome the New Year months ahead of the event. Proper celebration needs at least a few weeks’ preparations. New clothes are bought for every family member to wear on the day of the New Year; the colour of the clothes should match the auspicious colours designated by the astrologers.

The houses are cleaned and renew the colour in order to give it a facelift. One important part of the celebration is the preparation of traditional sweetmeats. The cleaning and extinguishing of the hearth is the next event for the celebration.

Making a new fire on an auspicious day according to the auspicious time ends the inauspicious time. Family members are not engaging in any activity (no work, no visits) during the inauspicious period. When the New Year arrives people light the firecrackers and dressed in the predetermined colour.

A ceremonially prepared first meal of the Year, with the harvest collected from the rice cultivation, is partaken among the family members at an auspicious time. Ganu Denu or the first business transaction is performed afterwards.

With the ending of rituals of the New Year, it is time to perform traditional sports. Some of the popular activities are blind man’s bluff, tug-of-war and pillow fights. “Hisa thel Gama” or anointing of the head with oil takes place generally two days after the advent of the new year.

Oil which is made to a special Ayurveda recipe using a large number of herbs applied on the head of each member of the family while the blessing is chanted. New Year celebration ends with setting off to work at an auspicious time designated by astrologers. One leaves the house facing the auspicious direction dressed inauspicious colour.