Celebration of the birth of the holy Prophet Muhammad.

The Sri Lankan New Year is celebrated annually between the 12 th and 15 th of April by the Sinhala and Tamil communities, binding the two main ethnic groups in a shared heritage of ancient customs and traditions .Originally a harvest thanks giving, this great national festival marks the transit of the sun from Pisces (Meena Rasi) to Aries (Mesha Rasi) in the zodiac. Customs and traditions are meticulously observed. Activities such as lighting of domestic hearths, cooking and eating the first meal, business transactions and commencing occupational work in the new year are at astrologically auspicious times to ensure good fortune. Everyone wears new clothes in the prescribed lucky colour and freshly-harvested grain is used to prepare milk-rice (kiri-bath in Sinhala and parl choru in Tamil) in new post; and for delicious traditional sweetmeats. Traditional games such as elle, gudu and pora-pol and raban (bass drum) playing and swing-riding add to the merry-making and open-house hospitality prevails.

May Day is celebrated with parades and rallies organized by the Trade Unions to mark the international worker's day.

This is the most important Buddhist festival in Sri Lanka. It celebrates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. A festival of great piety and sanctity which focuses on the virtue of compassion to all lining creatures, it is also one of much colour and gaiety, with streets, homes and public places decorated with beautiful hand-made paper lanterns and glittering with illuminations. Mass observance of sil (Buddhist precepts) and wayside stalls (dansala) to dispense free food and drink to passers - by, are features of this festival.

This full-moon festival celebrates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C., a festival of great historical and religious significance, celebrated island-wide by Buddhists. The main centers of celebration are Mihintale, the ancient monastic complex where the royal missionary monk Mahinda preached the first sermon to the king, and at Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, to which large crowds of pilgrims converge. Mass religious observances, illuminations and pageants are part of the celebrations.

"Sri Lanka - Gateway to South Asia Travel Mart" invites you to take the opportunities to meet up with over 150 exhibiting companies and 200 buyers from all over the world. The exhibitors will comprise tourism/MICE tourism sectors.

This unique government-sponsored event will bring together of meeting a new segment of exhibitors.

The pristine beaches and the wild waves of the east coast of Sri Lanka will once again be the chosen venue for the SriLankan Airlines Champion of Champions BPSA Surf Competition. The event will be attended by over 50 professional surfers from United kingdom and Sri Lanka, together with a number of Australian surfers.

The surfing paradise of Arugam Bay was the obvious venue for the Championship as waves here reach a height of fifteen feet or more, receiving the same swells that hit other world renown surfing locations during the mid year. Sea temperature that lasts at 27 degrees Celsius through out the year, Arugam Bay is an ideal surfing location.

Esala (July/August) is the seasons of festivals in Sri Lanka and the full moon day of Esala is the climax of some of the festivals. The most magnificent of these festivals is the Kandy Esala Perahera. A spectacular medieval day pageant is held for 10 nights climaxing with the Kandyan dancers and drummers in colourful traditional costumes. Kandyan Chieftains in medieval court dress, more than one hundred caparisoned elephants whip crackers, torch bearers etc., make it an unforgettable experience.

Kumbul Perahera
31 July – 03 Aug 2006 Kumbul Perahera
04 Aug 2006 Final Kumbul Perahera

Randoli Perahera
05 – 08 Aug 2006 Randoli Perahera
09 Aug 2006 Final Perahera

10 Aug 2006 Day Perahera

The Singer SriLankan Rugby Sevens tournament will be held at the Kandy Bogambara stadium in September.

Known as the festival of lights, Deepavali festival takes place in late October or early November. Thousands of oil lamps will be lit to celebrate the victory of good over evil and the return of Rama (the legendary character of the Hindu epic Ramayana, believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu) after his period of exile. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth is worshipped on the third day of the festival.

Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Literally the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations.

11th SriLankan Airlines Golf Classic is to be held from 25-28 October 2006 at the magnificent Victoria Golf and Country Resort, Digana, Kandy.

The National Championship of the Japanese Pro Surfers Association which is held in Hikkaduwa on the west coast of the country where over one hundred Japanese surfers will participate for the 5th year this November.

Christmas is celebrated in traditional fashion by Christians in Sri Lanka. The festive season begins in mid December, with Christmas sales, illuminations and decorations in shops and steets. Midnight church services, carol-singing (often with Sinhala and Tamil Lyrics), Christmas cards and trees, Santa Claus, presents, seasonal food, gifts for the needy and celebrations with family and friends ensure good cheer and happy times for all.