SeasonMapSri Lanka in May
May is Sri Lanka's 9th-best month (rank 9 of 12): its 12 destinations average 69/100, led by Arugam Bay at 84 — 38°C and 12 rainy days — while Nuwara Eliya is cooler at 22°C and scores 70.
#9 of 12 months for Sri Lanka · 12 destinations · updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Where in Sri Lanka in May
| # | Place | Type | Feels-like high | Rain | Comfort | At its best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arugam Bay | Beach | 38°C | 66 mm · 12 days | 84 tier A | — |
| 2 | Trincomalee | Beach | 33°C | 50 mm · 9 days | 83 tier A | — |
| 3 | Mirissa | Beach | 29°C | 242 mm · 29 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 4 | Weligama | Beach | 35°C | 242 mm · 29 days | 72 tier B | — |
| 5 | Nuwara Eliya | Trekking hub | 22°C | 260 mm · 28 days | 70 tier B | — |
| 6 | Kandy | City | 33°C | 149 mm · 20 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 7 | Sigiriya | City | 32°C | 65 mm · 8 days | 69 tier C | — |
| 8 | Ella | Trekking hub | 31°C | 189 mm · 19 days | 68 tier C | — |
| 9 | Anuradhapura | City | 36°C | 108 mm · 17 days | 65 tier C | — |
| 10 | Galle | Beach | 29°C | 321 mm · 30 days | 65 tier C | — |
| 11 | Bentota | Beach | 29°C | 311 mm · 30 days | 64 tier C | — |
| 12 | Colombo | City | 36°C | 288 mm · 29 days | 50 tier D | — |
Comfort is SeasonMap's 0–100 score; each place is judged through the lens that suits it — beaches on beach weather, ski resorts on snow. "At its best" means May is one of that place's own top three months. Feels-like highs fold in humidity, wind and sun.
What's on in Sri Lanka in May
- Blue and sperm whale season · Trincomalee · 1 May – 15 Oct (usually)
- Vesak · Colombo · 30–31 May
- Kumana waterbird season · Arugam Bay · 1 Apr – 31 Jul (usually)