🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: August 2026 Poya Holidays

Summary: Two Poya (full moon) holidays fall in July and August 2026. Employees who work on a Poya Holiday are entitled to 1.5x their daily wage, which also counts toward EPF contributions.

Background

Poya Days are monthly full-moon holidays observed in Sri Lanka. Statutory pay rules apply when employees are required to work on these days.

Upcoming Holidays

• 29 July 2026 — Esala Full Moon Poya Day
• 27 August 2026 — Nikini Full Moon Poya Day

What This Means for You

If an employee works on a Poya Holiday, the employer must pay 1.5 times the employee's daily wage as holiday payment. This holiday payment is also factored into EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) contributions.

What to Do

1. Plan ahead for any employees expected to work through either date.
2. Flag holiday-worked hours to payroll so the 1.5x pay premium — and the resulting EPF contribution — is applied correctly.

FAQ

Q: Does the 1.5x pay apply automatically, or does it need to be requested? A: It applies automatically whenever an employee works on a Poya Holiday — payroll should be notified in advance so it's reflected in that cycle.

Questions? Contact your Customer Success Manager or our Support Team.