Public Holidays in Sri Lanka for 2019
70% of Sri Lanka’s population follows Buddhism, which is why most of the public holidays are based on that culture. Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism are practised in some parts of Sri Lanka to mark respect. The government includes holidays for all three religions every year.
One major Buddhism holiday was announced as a national holiday in Sri Lanka. The Full Moon Poya Days of each month. On a Full Moon Poya Day, the workers are entitled to have a paid leave, the banks and organizations are closed during these days of each year.
Other significant national occasions Sri Lanka watches are the National Holiday, New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Sinhala and Tami New Year, Thai Pongal Day, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday, Mahasivarathri, Eid-al-Adha, Eid-al-Fitr, and Christmas Day.
How are Businesses in Sri Lanka During Public Holiday
The public holidays give workers a chance to relax and rest from all the stress that comes from working for many hours. It gives you a little room to breathe, and it definitely increases the productivity of workers in general. The long weekend gives a chance for workers to have a short vacation, where the families travel to different parts of the country.
There is great importance given to religion because it helps rebuild unity in the country. Sri Lanka is still recovering from the economic crisis from the civil war. That is why the 42 days of public holidays are not favourable to many businesses. However, the extended holidays and public holidays deliver a large revenue for the leisure and entertainment sector. These are shopping malls, hotels, tourist destinations, restaurants, and other businesses related to it.
A business must work around those holidays to still generate a high level of productivity. Public holidays that turn to long weekends are usually not favourable to businesses.
Dates of the Sri Lanka Public Holiday 2019
Date | Which Day/s | Holiday | Type |
10 January | Friday | Duruthu Ful Moon Poya | Public |
15 January | Wednesday | Tamil Thai Pongal Day | Public |
4 February | Tuesday | National Day | Public |
19 February | Saturday | Navam Full Moon Poya | Public |
21 February | Friday | Mahasivarathri Day | Public |
9 March | Monday | Madin Full Moon Poya | Public |
12 April | Sunday | Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s Eve | Public |
13 April | Monday | Sinhala and Tamil New Year’s Day | Public |
1 May | Friday | Labor Day | Public |
7 – 8 May | Thursday | Vesak Full Moon Poya | Public |
5 June | Friday | Poson Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
21 June | Sunday | June Solstice | Season |
4 July | Saturday | Esala Full Moon Poya | Public |
1 August | Saturday | Eid al-Adha | Public |
3 August | Monday | Raksha Bandhan | Public |
1 September | Tuesday | Binara Full Moon Poya | Public |
1 October | Thursday | Adhi Vap Full Moon Poya | Public |
30 October | Friday | Vap Full Moon Poya | Public |
14 November | Saturday | Deepavali | Public |
29 November | Sunday | III Full Moon Poya | Public |
21 December | Monday | December Solstice | Season |
24 December | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Observance |
25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | Public |
29 December | Tuesday | Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
Employee Benefits During Holidays
Based on the Act, an employee who is required to work on a public holiday must not be paid less than twice their daily wage, or it could be a substitute holiday on any day before December 31st of the year.
These public holidays are Independence Day, Thai Pongal Day, Sinhala & Tamil New Year, May Day, Day preceding Sinhala & Tamil New Year, Day after Vesak Full Moon Poya, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday, and Christmas.
Even if it is difficult to measure how the holidays in Sri Lanka affect their economy, studies have shown that employees have better mental status after a holiday. They are more productive because of these holidays. It may be hard to measure these, but there is definitely a positive impact on their productivity.
Doing Business in Sri Lanka
If you want to start a business in Sri Lanka, you can do that as a foreign investor, and there are top businesses ideas you can do. Despite the many public holidays, Sri Lanka is a good place for these businesses:
Online Marketing
Online marketing is good for a startup in Sri Lanka. If your cash is limited, you can easily start this business. You can learn all about it, become an expert, and then hire your team. A small office at home is enough to get started, or in a nearby location that lets, you have a small space. You can talk to product sellers and form a contract with them.
Jeans Making
The government is supportive of this business sector. There are a couple of schemes you can get from the government to help you. If you want an apparel business, consider jeans making.
Now, you know why setting up a business in Sri Lanka is a great idea for any investor.