When to go · Colombo
Colombo in April
Mixed month. Hot; Sinhala and Tamil New Year closures in mid-April; first storms.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Temperature
- 31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C) / 25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 13
- Crowds
- Medium
- Sri Lanka overall
- Prices
- Medium
- Sri Lanka overall
Verdict
Hot; Sinhala and Tamil New Year closures in mid-April; first storms.
All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.
Is another month better than April?
April is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
Weather in April
- ColomboHighs around 31 °C (88 °F), lows around 25 °C (77 °F), rain on about 13 daysHighs around 88 °F (31 °C), lows around 77 °F (25 °C), rain on about 13 days
- West and south coast, Sri Lanka · Colombo, Negombo, Bentota, Galle, Mirissahot
South-west monsoon May–Sep brings rough seas and red flags; October–November inter-monsoon storms are heavy in Colombo.
Sinhala/Tamil New Year season
A distinct city mood: quiet streets, closed shops, the run-up to the monsoon.
Watch: Many restaurants and shops close for several days.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year check
Mid-April (usually 13–14 April) · Whole city
Shops, offices and many restaurants close for several days as people travel to family homes; streets are quiet, hotels near the coast fill with domestic travellers after.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Sri Lanka overall
- Medium
- Prices · Sri Lanka overall
- Medium
Sri Lanka overall: Hot; New Year (13–14 Apr) closes shops and fills transport; inter-monsoon storms late in the month.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Colombo, side by side.
Verdict
Apr: Mixed
Jan: Great (better)
Daytime high
Apr: 31 °C (88 °F)88 °F (31 °C)
Jan: 30 °C (86 °F)86 °F (30 °C)
Night low
Apr: 25 °C (77 °F)77 °F (25 °C)
Jan: 23 °C (73 °F)73 °F (23 °C)
Rain days
Apr: 13
Jan: 6 (better)
Crowds
Apr: Medium
Jan: High
Prices
Apr: Medium
Jan: High
Festivals listed
Apr: 1
Jan: 2
April: Hot; Sinhala and Tamil New Year closures in mid-April; first storms.
January: Driest and coolest month for the west coast; warm all the same.
Colombo: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast