Sri Lanka
Colombo in May
🌧️ Rainy seasonHot, humid and very wet. Watch for flood risk.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket · quick-dry fabrics · waterproof sandals
Why May scores 6.6What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort5.1
- ✓Hot (32°C highs / 26°C lows)
- !Very humid/sticky (dew point 25°C)
- !Wet: ~314 mm rain, ~11 heavy-rain days
- Air quality8.1
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~17 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Flood: ~11 heavy-rain days (≥10 mm) in an average May
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 6.6 Good | 8.0 Very good |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | 🌦️ Shoulder (showers) |
| High / low | 32° / 26° | 31° / 23° |
| Rain | 314 mm | 80 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 25° | dew pt 22° |
| PM2.5 | 17 µg/m³ | 26 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Colombo weather-station normals. Rainfall: Colombo weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in Sri Lanka this month.
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore ColomboEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallySri Lanka's largest city and commercial capital, a busy port with colonial buildings, temples, markets and a seafront promenade.
VesakDate variesFull moon in May, date moves each year
The Buddhist festival with lanterns, decorations and free food stalls (dansal).
Why go: Evenings are the best time to see the lanterns.
Where: Citywide
Coming up later
Navam PeraheraDate variesFull moon in February, usually
A procession of elephants, dancers and drummers.
Why go: Streets around Beira Lake fill up.
Where: Gangaramaya Temple area
Independence DayEvery year4 February every year
Sri Lanka's national day with official ceremonies.
Why go: Expect road closures.
Where: Colombo
Sinhala and Tamil New YearDate variesUsually 13–14 April
The traditional New Year with family rituals and festive food.
Why go: Many shops close for several days.
Where: Nationwide
Gangaramaya Temple
A Buddhist temple complex with an eclectic museum collection.
Seema Malaka
A small temple on a lake, designed by Geoffrey Bawa.
Galle Face Green
An oceanfront promenade popular in the evening with food stalls.
Pettah
A busy market district with the red-and-white Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque.
National Museum of Colombo
Sri Lanka's largest museum of history and art.
Independence Memorial Hall
A monument in Independence Square commemorating independence.
Hoppers (appa)
Bowl-shaped rice-flour pancakes, often with an egg cooked inside.
Kottu roti
Chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, egg or meat on a hot griddle.
Rice and curry
Rice with several curries, sambols and papadum.
Lamprais
Rice and curries baked in a banana leaf, from the Dutch Burgher community.
Isso vadai
Prawn-topped lentil fritters.
💡 Galle Face Green food stalls
Ceylon tea
Tea from Sri Lanka's highlands.
💡 Tea shops and supermarkets
Spices
Cinnamon, cardamom and curry powders.
💡 Pettah markets and supermarkets
Batik and handloom
Hand-dyed batik and woven textiles.
💡 Craft shops