The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has issued an extraordinary gazette notification declaring May 31 a public holiday in conjunction with the 2026 State Vesak Festival.
The official State Vesak Festival programme is scheduled for May 30, with the following day declared a public holiday under the gazette. The ministry also revised the May 2 holiday in the same notification.
Vesak Poya, which marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha, falls within the broader State Vesak Festival programme running May 27 to June 2. The national festival typically features illuminated pandals, lantern displays, dansal food stalls and all-night Buddhist observances across Sri Lanka.
The May 31 declaration means Sri Lankans will observe the Vesak Poya on the traditional calendar date and then receive an additional public holiday the next day to accommodate the State Festival’s concluding ceremonies. The revision to the May 2 holiday is a separate administrative adjustment.
The United National Party has already said it will forgo its May Day rally this year, citing the overlap with religious observances. Cabinet earlier this month confirmed the mercantile holiday calendar for Avurudu and Vesak.
Full details of the revised May 2 holiday arrangement will be published in the official gazette.
