Seasons in Colombo & the southwest
The rain runs May to September
Which part of the country
It is rainy season in Colombo & the southwest right now, and it runs May to September. The rain tends to come hard and short rather than all day, and it stays warm through it — so the thing to bring is a shell you can fold into a day bag, not a coat.
Going in August
The Yala monsoon comes in off the Indian Ocean onto this coast, with May the wettest month of the year.
What this means for your bag
A packable rain shell
Not a winter coat — it stays warm through the rain. A light hooded shell that folds into its own pocket ends up in the day bag instead of the hotel room.
See the Weather Protection packQuick-dry fabrics
Cotton takes two days to dry in this air and starts to smell before it does. Synthetics and merino wash in a sink and are wearable by morning.
See the Summer Sun Kit packA dry bag or two
Phone, passport and camera in something sealed. A cheap roll-top bag also doubles as the wet-clothes bag on the way home.
See the Weather Protection packInsect protection
Standing water means mosquitoes, and the ones out at dusk are the ones that matter. Repellent with DEET or picaridin, and long sleeves in the evening.
See the Health & Wellness pack
Build a packing plan around the season you are actually travelling in.