The New Year is nearly upon us so here is our pick of what's on in Sri Lanka by month for 2015. Gain more from your Sri Lanka holiday by booking at a time of year that coincides with vibrant local festivals, key events and sporting occasions. Many of these Sri Lankan events – particularly the cultural ones– are poorly advertised yet visiting at an opportune time of year (during whale watching season, for example) can be very rewarding.

It's also useful to remember that every full moon (poya) day in Sri Lanka is a public holiday and that alcohol is banned from sale. During Wesak poya, this ban is extended to two days.

January

Whale and dolphin-watching season continues until April on the south and west coasts.

Stay: Why House, 23 Palms, Kahanda Kanda and 41 Lighthouse Street

February

Navam Perahera – Colombo's biggest 2-day full moon temple festival draws thousands of spectators keen to see processions of elephants, dancers, drummers and street performers.

Stay: Casa Colombo

Donald Steele Golf Tournament – a popular golfing championship held at the glorious Victoria Golf & Country Resort, near Kandy.

Stay: Bougainvillea Retreat

March

Hot Air Balloon Festival – a little-known week long annual event whereby ballooners converge on Sri Lanka, and offer special flights near Colombo and above Sigiriya and Hambantota.

Stay: The Wallawwa

April

Sinhalese / Tamil New Year – a non-religious two-day harvest festival celebration and one of the most important holidays in the Sri Lankan calendar. Celebrated across the island.

Stay: South and West coasts, Kandy and the Hill Country

May

Wesak Poya – the most sacred full moon holiday which commemorates the birth, death and enlightenment of the Buddha. Devotees hang colourful lanterns outside their homes.

Stay: South and West coasts, Kandy and the Hill Country

June

Poson Poya – a significant full moon holiday for Sri Lankan Buddhists, since it commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Big celebrations in Anuradhapura.

Stay: Cultural Triangle

July/August

Kataragama Festival – one of Sri Lanka's most visual festivals where devotees of Lord Skanda pay homage by performing acts of self-mutilation, including walking atop hot coals.

Stay: Noel Rodrigo's Leopard Safaris

Kandy Perahera – the island's most famous festival, a 10-day Buddhist extravaganza with extravagant nightly parades of bejewelled elephants, dancers, musicians and acrobats.

Stay: Bougainvillea Retreat

September/October

The Gathering – an exciting natural phenomenon where hundreds of elephants congregate in large groups at the Minneriya National Park's main waterhole, in the Cultural Triangle.

Stay: Cultural Triangle

December

Adam's Peak Pilgrimage Season – The December full moon marks the start of the5-month Adam's Peak pilgrimage season (ends on the Wesak full moon in May).

Stay: Hill Country

Who we are

The Sri Lanka Collection, a UK-based representation and marketing company, works on behalf of a distinguished collection of Sri Lankan boutique hotels, villas and safari camps. The company raises awareness of Sri Lanka's outstanding boutique travel products and helps them to maximize their visibility in the UK. The Sri Lanka Collection is the first representation company of its kind to focus on the high-end client and on Sri Lanka alone.

Our hotels

Casa Colombo, Colombo (www.casacolombo.com)

The Wallawwa, Negombo(www.thewallawwa.com)

Kahanda Kanda, Koggala Lake (www.kahandakanda.com)

Why House, Inland Galle (www.whyhousesrilanka.com)

23 Palms, Talpe (www.twentythreepalm.com)

41 Lighthouse Street, Galle Fort (www.lighthousestreet.com)

Bougainvillea Retreat, Kandy (www.bv-retreat.com)

Noel Rodrigo's Leopard Safaris, Yala National Park (www.leopardsafaris.com)

For more information and high-res images, please contact Eleanor Milner, Director:

26/2 Inverleith Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5QB                                              +44 7786 237594

eleanor@srilankacollection.com                                                 www.srilankacollection.com

ENDS