Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day)
| Date | Type |
|---|---|
21 Mar 2026 Saturday | BankPublic |
10 Mar 2027 Wednesday | BankPublic |
Overview
Eid-Ul-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is one of the two major festivals of the Islamic calendar. Throughout Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset as one of the five pillars of Islam; Eid itself begins with a special congregational prayer, often held outdoors in large open grounds to accommodate the crowds. In Colombo, it's a long-standing tradition for the Muslim community to gather at Galle Face Green for the Eid morning prayer. Before the prayer, Muslims are expected to give Zakat al-Fitr, a charitable donation of food or its cash equivalent for each household member, ensuring that families in need can also join the celebration. Sri Lanka's Muslim community traces its roots back over a thousand years to Arab traders who settled along the coast from the 7th century onwards, and Eid is marked with new clothes, festive foods such as watalappan (a spiced coconut custard), and visits to family and friends throughout the day. Because the Islamic calendar is purely lunar with no leap-month adjustment, the exact date shifts earlier by roughly ten days every year and is only confirmed once the new moon is formally sighted, sometimes just a day or two in advance.
Significance
The day follows a month during which observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset; Eid itself is a celebration of the completion of that fast, marked with special congregational prayers in the morning.
How it's observed
Sri Lankan Muslims attend prayers at mosques, wear new clothes, and visit family, often preparing dishes like watalappan (a coconut custard dessert). Businesses in areas with significant Muslim communities may close for the day. Note the exact date depends on the sighting of the new moon and can shift by a day.
See the Sri Lanka long weekends list or use the interactive holiday planner.