Sri Lanka Public, Bank, Mercantile and Poya Holidays – 2013

 

National Holidays for 2013
January 14 Monday Tamil Thai Pongal Day B.P.M.
January 25 Friday Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet’s Birthday) B.P.M.
January 26 Saturday Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
February 04 Monday National Day B.P.M.
February 25 Monday Nawam Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
March 10 Sunday Mahasivarathri Day B.P.
March 26 Tuesday Medin Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
March 29 Friday Good Friday B.P.
April 13 Saturday Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day B.P.M.
April 14 Sunday Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day B.P.M.
April 15 Monday Special Bank Holiday (in lieu of Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day which falls on Sunday) B.
April 25 Thursday Bak Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
May 01 Wednesday May Day B.P.M.
May 24 Friday Vesak Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
May 25 Saturday Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day B.P.M.
June 23 Sunday Poson Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
July 22 Monday Esala Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
August 09 Friday Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day) B.P.
August 20 Tuesday Nikini Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
September 19 Thursday Binara Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
October 16 Wednesday Id-Ul-Alha (Hajjhi Festival Day) B.P.
October 18 Friday Vap Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
November 02 Saturday Deepawali Festival Day B.P.
November 17 Sunday Il Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
December 16 Monday Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day B.P.
December 25 Wednesday Christmas Day B.P.M.
B – Bank Holiday P – Public Holiday M – Mercantile Holiday

 

Poya Day

Poya Day is a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka. Every full moon day is known as a Poya in Sri Lanka. Therefore there are 12 Poya days (Occasionally 13) for a year. Generally shops and businesses are closed on Poya Days, and the sale of alcohol and meat is forbidden.

Muslim festivals

Muslim festivals are scheduled in accordance with local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates above are estimations.