Quick answer
On early-year cricket tours of Sri Lanka, roughly January to March, Galle and Colombo are dry and hot, with highs of about 30 to 32 °C, little rain and calm seas. The south coast is at its best for beaches and Mirissa's whale season. Kandy and the hills are dry with cool nights, the Cultural Triangle is pleasant, and the east coast is wet in January but drying by March.
Key takeaways
- Australia's 2004 Test tour was played in February and March, and the 2025 tour in January and February.
- January to March is the dry season on the southwest coast, including Galle and Colombo.
- Galle's daytime highs are about 30 to 32 °C, with strong sun and high humidity.
- Mirissa's whale-watching season, roughly November to April, overlaps early-year tours.
- The east coast is often wet and rough in January, during the northeast monsoon, but drying by March.
The southwest dry season
Early-year Australian cricket tours of Sri Lanka fall in the dry season of the southwest coast. From roughly December to March, the northeast monsoon blows over the island from the Bay of Bengal, dropping its rain on the east and north and leaving Colombo, Galle and the south coast mostly dry and sunny.
That makes January to March the most reliable time for uninterrupted Test cricket in Galle and Colombo. Rain delays are rare, and the main weather challenge is the heat in the stands.
The dry season ends in April, the hottest and most humid month, with afternoon thunderstorms building towards the southwest monsoon in late May.
- →Dry season: roughly December to March.
- →Rain delays: rare in Galle and Colombo.
- →April: hottest, with afternoon storms.
Weather at each ground
Galle International Stadium and Colombo's grounds are dry and hot, with highs of about 30 to 32 °C, strong sun and humidity of 70 to 80 per cent. Sea breezes help in Galle, especially in the afternoon.
Pallekele, near Kandy, is dry and warm by day, about 28 to 30 °C, with cooler evenings. Dambulla and Hambantota are dry and hot, though not as hot as they become from April to August.
In all grounds, the sun is the main hazard. The UV index is very high from about 10 am to 3 pm.
- →Galle and Colombo: about 30 to 32 °C, dry.
- →Pallekele: warm days, cool evenings.
- →UV: very high in the middle of the day.
The south coast for rest days
The south coast is at its best in early-year tours. Unawatuna, Mirissa, Weligama and Tangalle have calm, clear seas, ideal for swimming, snorkelling and surfing for beginners. Mirissa's whale-watching season, roughly November to April, is at its peak, with blue whales often seen from about December to March.
Yala National Park is open and dry, with good leopard sightings from about February, and the Hikkaduwa reef has its clearest water.
Lankan Stays & Trails plans early-year cricket trips around the south coast, with whales, beaches and Yala fitted into the gaps between Tests.
- →Beaches: calm and clear.
- →Whales: peak season off Mirissa.
- →Yala: good from about February.
Kandy, the hills and the Cultural Triangle
Kandy and the hill country are dry and clear in early-year tours, with warm days and cool nights. Nuwara Eliya can drop to near freezing on clear January and February nights, and Horton Plains is at its clearest.
The Cultural Triangle, with Sigiriya, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa, is pleasant in January and February, warmer in March. Some rain is possible in January, at the tail of the northeast monsoon.
- →Hills: dry, clear, cold nights.
- →Cultural Triangle: pleasant January and February.
- →Adam's Peak: pilgrimage season, roughly December to May.
The east coast early in the year
The east coast is the one region to avoid in an early-year tour. Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay are often wet and rough in January, during the northeast monsoon, and only begin to dry out in March and April.
For rest days, stay on the south and west coasts, and keep the east for a mid-year trip.
What to pack for an early-year tour
Pack for sun: a wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, light long sleeves, a refillable water bottle and rehydration salts. A warm layer is useful for the hills.
A small cushion makes the hard seats in the stands more comfortable over five days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like at a Galle Test in February?
Galle in February is dry, sunny and hot, with daytime highs of about 30 to 32 °C, high humidity and very little rain. Rain delays are rare. Sea breezes help in the afternoon. The sea at nearby Unawatuna and Mirissa is calm and good for swimming.
Is January a good time to visit Sri Lanka for cricket?
January is a good time for cricket in Galle and Colombo, which are dry and sunny in the southwest's dry season. The south coast beaches are calm, Mirissa's whale season is under way and the hills are clear. The east coast is often wet in January.
Does it rain during early-year cricket tours?
Rain is rare in Galle and Colombo from roughly January to March, the dry season on the southwest coast. Short showers are possible, especially in January. The east coast and north can be wet in January, at the end of the northeast monsoon.
Is it too hot to watch Test cricket in Sri Lanka in March?
March is hot, with highs of about 31 to 33 °C and rising humidity, but Test cricket is watchable with care: shade, a hat, sunscreen, water and rehydration salts. April is hotter and more humid. Afternoon sea breezes in Galle help.
Can you see whales during an early-year tour?
You can. Mirissa's whale-watching season runs roughly November to April, with blue whales often seen from about December to March. Mirissa is about an hour from Galle, so a morning trip fits a rest day between Tests.
Is the east coast good during an early-year tour?
The east coast is usually not good in January and February, when the northeast monsoon brings rain and rough seas to Trincomalee, Pasikudah and Arugam Bay. It starts to dry in March and April. In early-year tours, stay on the south and west coasts.
What should you pack for an early-year cricket trip?
Pack a wide-brimmed hat, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, light long-sleeved shirts, a refillable water bottle and rehydration salts, plus a warm layer for the hills. A small cushion helps on hard seats over a five-day Test.