Sri Lanka has two distinct monsoon seasons namely southwest monsoon season (Yala season) and northeast monsoon season (Maha season), which influence the climatic conditions of the country. There are no summer or winter months that possess the distinct qualities matching the general definition. At any given month, weather in Sri Lanka is not a deterring factor to visit the nation. The diverse climatic conditions of Sri Lanka make it hard to exclude a particular season from visiting the country as it is an all-year-round destination unless you are passionate about a specific aspect of travel or a specific location to visit. For example, if you plan to visit southern or western coastal areas, December to March would be ideal. If you are attracted to tourist destinations in the north and east, the perfect time would be from May to September. Hence, the best season to visit Sri Lanka basically depends on your interests as a traveller.
That said, here is an assessment of the months based on monsoons.
Northeast Monsoon: Heavy rainfall in the northeast.
Southwest Monsoon: Heavy rainfall in the southwest.
First Inter-monsoon Season: Hot with thunderstorms.
Second Inter-monsoon Season: Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms.
Hottest Months: (March to April) Though these months are hot in low lying areas but they are not summer months.
Cool months: (December to February) These months are very cool in central highlands but technically not winter months.
The best months to visit Sri Lanka are from December to April. However, depending on your interests, you may opt for different months as well. Let’s say you are head over heels in love for beaches, December to April would be ideal. To spot wildlife in their natural habitat, November to April could be the right months. If your idea is to visit tourist places covering all of the island nation, you may book your tickets for the month of April or between September and November.
