By Yohan Perera 

Like last year, the New Year 2024 will be one with long holidays, since most Public holidays will fall either on Fridays or Mondays. 

There will be around 10 long weekends this year as well starting from January as Thai Pongal on January 15 falls on a Monday. 

Full Moon Poya in February falls on a Friday. Maha Shivaratri and Good Friday falls on Fridays. Sinhala Tamil New Year this year also falls on Thursday and Friday, Vesak Poya falls on a Friday this year, bringing another long weekend in May. There are two long weekends in June as Poya and Hajj festival falls on Fridays. Full Moon Poya in August Falls on a Monday. There will be one long weekend in September as Prophet Muhammad’s birthday falls on a Monday in addition to Poya in November falls on a Friday. 

The situation was almost the same in 2023 as well. 

It was reported in the media some years ago that Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product (GDP) was cut by 10 per cent because of the high number of holidays. 

• Most Public holidays fall either on Fridays or Mondays
• It was reported in the media some years ago that Sri Lanka’s gross domestic product (GDP) was cut by 10 per cent because of the high number of holidays