Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Weather in March

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Sri Lanka in March.

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Kandy Colombo Hikkaduwa Negombo

Planning a getaway to Sri Lanka this March and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Sri Lanka in March

March in Sri Lanka generally has temperatures that range from warm to very hot, with precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between warm in Ramboda at 28°C (82°F) to very hot in Nochchiyagama at 36°C (97°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Nochchiyagama and 18°C (64°F) in Ramboda. In Sri Lanka, March typically stands out as the hottest month of the year. If you're planning a visit during this time, it would be wise to come prepared. Packing light and breathable summer cloths will ensure you stay comfortable throughout your stay.

For a closer look at conditions across Sri Lanka, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In March, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Jaffna with an average of 27 mm (1.1 in) to heavy rainfall in Adams Peak with 309 mm (12 in).

Average sunshine

Several destinations enjoy plenty of sunshine this month. Kandy sees close to 198 hours of sunlight, making it great for sun lovers.

Explore Sri Lanka by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Sri Lanka in March

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Sri Lanka.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Sri Lanka

What is the weather like in March for some of the most popular destinations in Sri Lanka?

Temperature range in Sri Lanka (March)

Precipitation variation in Sri Lanka (March)

Kandy

In March Kandy generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are tolerable that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
20°C (68°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
162 hours
198 hours
157 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
217 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
8 days
13 days
Weather conditions
perfect
tolerable
poor
Climate in Kandy →

Hikkaduwa

In March Hikkaduwa generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
249 hours
270 hours
230 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
191 mm (7.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
8 days
12 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Hikkaduwa →

Negombo

In March Negombo generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 33°C (91°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 26°C (79°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
33°C (91°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
246 hours
276 hours
234 hours
Monthly rainfall
56 mm (2.2 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
192 mm (7.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
8 days
13 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Negombo →

Mirissa

In March Mirissa generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are pleasant that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
26°C (79°F)
Monthly sun hours
249 hours
270 hours
230 hours
Monthly rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
183 mm (7.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
7 days
11 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
pleasant
unpleasant
Climate in Mirissa →

Nuwara Eliya

In March Nuwara Eliya generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« February
March
April »
February
March
April
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly sun hours
162 hours
198 hours
157 hours
Monthly rainfall
107 mm (4.2 in)
94 mm (3.7 in)
202 mm (8 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
7 days
13 days
Weather conditions
pleasant
perfect
unpleasant
Climate in Nuwara Eliya →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Sri Lanka.

Popular cities in March

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Sri Lanka in March.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kandy 31°C (88°F) 20°C (68°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Colombo 33°C (91°F) 26°C (79°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Hikkaduwa 30°C (86°F) 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Negombo 33°C (91°F) 26°C (79°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Nuwara Eliya 29°C (84°F) 18°C (64°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Anuradhapura 35°C (95°F) 24°C (75°F) 52 mm (2 in)

Sri Lanka weather in March: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sri Lanka in March?

Expect unpleasant weather across Sri Lanka in March. The popular destination of Kandy averages 31°C (88°F) by day and 20°C (68°F) at night during this month.

What is the average temperature in Sri Lanka in March?

Average temperatures in Sri Lanka during March range from a nighttime low near 20°C (68°F) to a daytime high around 31°C (88°F) in Kandy.

Does Sri Lanka get a lot of rain in March?

March is on the drier side in Sri Lanka. Kandy averages only about 100 mm (3.9 in), with most days staying dry.

Is March a Good Time to Visit Sri Lanka?

In our opinion, March is a good time to visit Sri Lanka with overall tolerable weather in Kandy.

On average, the best time to visit Sri Lanka is in February with generally perfect weather in Kandy. The weather in April, October and November, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sri Lanka.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Sri Lanka? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Sri Lanka.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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