This poya day is celebrated on the first full moon in January and marks the first visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. This is a key religious and historic date in the calendar for Sri Lankans as it marks Gautama Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka on the ninth month after attaining Enlightenment.

Pongal, is also referred to as Thai Pongal, is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival of South India, particularly in the Tamil community. It is observed at the start of the month Tai according to Tamil solar calendar, and this is typically about January 14.

National Day, also known as Independence Day, is a Sri Lankan national holiday celebrated annually on 4 February to commemorate the country’s political independence from British rule in 1948. It is celebrated all over the country through a flag-hoisting ceremony, dances, parades and performances.