Vacation and Leave Policies
Comprehensive guide to leave entitlements and holiday policies for employers in Sri Lanka.
Annual Leave Entitlement
Less than 10 months service
1 day per month
One day of paid leave for each completed month of service
More than 10 months service
14 days per year
Two weeks of paid annual leave after completing 10 months
Types of Leave
Annual Leave
14 days per year
Paid vacation leave after completing one year of service
Casual Leave
7 days per year
Short-notice leave for personal matters or emergencies
Sick Leave
14 days per year
Paid medical leave with doctor's certificate
Maternity Leave
84 working days
Paid maternity leave for female employees
Study Leave
Varies by company
Leave for professional development and education
Pilgrimage Leave
Varies by company
Special leave for religious pilgrimages
Public Holidays
National Day
February 4
Independence Day celebrating freedom from British rule (1948)
Sinhala and Tamil New Year
April (varies)
Traditional New Year based on astrological calculations
May Day
May 1
International Workers' Day
Vesak Day
May (varies)
Most significant Buddhist holiday (Full moon day)
Poson Day
June (varies)
Buddhist holiday celebrating arrival of Buddhism
Christmas Day
December 25
Christian celebration of Christmas
Religious Holidays
Thai Pongal Day
Tamil Hindu harvest festival (January)
Id-Ul-Fitr
End of Ramadan celebration (varies)
Id-Ul-Adha
Islamic feast of sacrifice (varies)
Deepavali
Hindu festival of lights (October/November)
Milad-Un-Nabi
Prophet Muhammad's birthday (varies)
Important Considerations
Leave entitlements may vary depending on the specific employment sector and applicable collective agreements.
Employers often outline specific details and procedures regarding leave in their employee handbooks.
Unused leave can typically be carried forward to the subsequent year, subject to company policy.
Some sectors may have more generous leave provisions outlined in relevant Collective Agreements.
Need Help Managing Leave?
Our HR experts can help you implement and manage leave policies that comply with Sri Lankan regulations while maintaining operational efficiency.