Sri Lanka experienced significant heat on Monday with Vavuniya recording the country's highest temperature at 38.8°C, while several northern and central areas also saw temperatures exceed 38°C.
Vavuniya emerged as the hottest location in Sri Lanka on Monday, August 31st, when temperatures at the meteorological station climbed to 38.8°C, according to data from the Department of Meteorology. This marked the highest maximum temperature recorded across the country on the day.
The extreme heat was concentrated in the northern, north-central, and eastern regions. Polonnaruwa followed closely behind Vavuniya with a maximum of 38.4°C, while Trincomalee recorded 38.1°C. Other affected areas included Monaragala at 37.1°C and Anuradhapura at 37.0°C. Mullaitivu, Maha Illuppallama, and Batticaloa also experienced elevated temperatures, ranging between 34.8°C and 36.7°C.
By contrast, temperatures remained considerably lower in the western and southern parts of the island. Colombo recorded a maximum of 31.1°C, while Katunayake reached 31.2°C. Galle experienced cooler conditions at 29.6°C. Nuwara Eliya was the coolest location among reported stations, with a maximum temperature of just 20.8°C.
The temperature differential between regions reflected typical weather patterns, with the northern and central dry zones experiencing significantly higher heat than coastal areas and elevated regions.