Sri Lanka Resorts - 2003 Event Calendar

2003 Events
Sri Lanka’s deep-rooted and ancient civilisation endows the island with a legacy of colourful national and religious festivals. Hardly a month goes by without a unique national or religious celebration of diverse cultures and religions, celebrated with the flair of people with a genius for pageantry and ceremony.

The full moon (poya) day of each month known by their traditional Sinhala names is of special religious significance. The exact dates of Sri Lanka’s festivals change from year to year as they depend on lunar or solar phases.

Sports events in Sri Lanka too attract fanfare. While Sri Lanka is internationally known for sports like cricket and athletics, an increasing array of sporting events including golf tournaments, water-sport events and motor races are becoming popular attractions in some the most scenic areas.
Event Calendar
DECEMBER 19th – APRIL 16th

Sri Pada Pilgrimage Season

Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak as it is known to the Westerners, is a mountain 2237 meters high situated in the South – west corner of Central Highlands. Thousands of pilgrims from many faiths climb the mountain to pay homage and make observance commencing from full-moon day of December to the full-moon day of April the following year. Buddhists believe that it enshrines the foot print of Gauthama Buddha at the summit. Hindus, Muslims and Christians also make pilgrimage for their own religious reasons. The spectacle of sunrise from the mountain top is an unforgettable sight.

JANUARY 17th

Durutu Perahera Pageant

A colourful religious pageant at the Kelaniya Temple 12 km away from the city of Colombo. This pageant is to commemorate the third visit of buddha to Sri Lanka. It is a colourful procession of caparisoned elephants, torch bearers and traditional dancers.

FEBRUARY – 1st Week

Classic Car Rally

Over 40 to 50 Classic cars ranging from CE1 upwards will proceed in a rally from Colombo to Wattala on the Classic Car Club Members day rally.

FEBRUARY 03rd

Independence Celebration Horse Race Meet

Independence Race Meet, a horse racing event at the Race Course in the scenic hill city of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s chief mountain resort, at 6,200 feet above sea level and home to the highest mountains of Sri Lanka.

FEBRUARY 04th

Independence Day

This day commemorates the granting of independence to Sri Lanka by the British on 04th February 1948. It is a great patriotic and national occasion celebrated with colourful parades and pageants depicting the nation’s culture and achievements.

FEBRUARY 14th & 15th

Navam Perahera Pageant

A colourful traditional perahera organised by Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo parades the city streets for two nights. Dancers, elephants, whip crackers make it an unforgettable event.

FEBRUARY 21st – 25th

Japanese Pro Surfing

Over 30 foreign participants are expected at this international professional surfing competition at the beach side resort city of Hikkaduwa.

MARCH – 1st Week

Vintage Check Point Rally

Vintage Car Owners club will conduct the Vintage Check Point Rally in Colombo. Over 50 – 55 Vintage cars, known as A-Z cars that were first registered in Sri Lanka over 60 years ago will take part in this rally.

MARCH – 1st Week

Elephant Polo

The introduction of an all Sri Lanka Elephant polo competition event by the Ceylon Elephant Polo Association is intended to popularise the sport in Sri Lanka. Beating the retreat by the pipes and drums of the Sri Lankan Navy and a local Perehera in the village of Weligama, they are aiming to make the event as enjoyable off the field as it is on the field. It is hoped that this event will be able to give extra financial assistance to local education and to the elephant orphanage.

APRIL – 1st Week

Turf Horse Races

The Governors Governor’s Cup, which is the main event at the April Festive season race meets at Nuwara Eliya Race Course.

APRIL 13th & 14th

Sinhala and Tamil New Year

The two main ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese and the Tamils celebrate a common traditional New Year in the month of April originally harvesting thanks giving. This marks the passage of the sun from Pisces to Aries. Traditional customs are observed on this day with merrymaking and fun and games and lavish hospitality.

APRIL

Flower Show & Garden Competition

The Flower Show and garden competition are among many events organized during the holiday season in the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya. Set in the heart of the tea-country, at 6,200 feet above sea level, Nuwara Eliya is a beautiful town where the British succeeded in creating an English countryside with homes ranging in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne, with well-kept lawns containing hedges, an Anglican church and the famous golf course and beautiful parks.

APRIL

Motor Racing: The Mahagasthota & Radalla Hill Climbs

In April Nuwara Eliya will provide an excellent vantage view of motor racing when over hundred formula three cars to motor cycles compete at the Mahagasthota Hill Climb and the Radalla Hill climb.

MAY 15th & 16th

Vesak Full Moon

Vesak is a thrice blessed day for Buddhists throughout the world. It commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha, his attaining enlightenment and passing away into Nibbana as Gauthama Buddha. It is a day of great sanctity devoted to religious observances and charity. The day is also celebrated with festivity with numerous colourful decorations and illuminations, pandals and pageants. Wayside stalls distribute food and refreshments to the pilgrims and passers by.