The Sri Lanka time difference is +5 hours 30 minutes from London and +10 hours 30 minutes from New York in winter, and +4 hours 30 minutes and +9 hours 30 minutes in summer (UK and US daylight saving seasons; Sri Lanka does not change its clocks).
In practice, when it is noon in London it is 17:30 in Colombo during UK winter time (GMT) and 16:30 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 22:30 in Colombo during Eastern Standard Time and 21:30 during Eastern Daylight Time.
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Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Sri Lanka: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+5:30, IANA identifier
Asia/Colombo - Difference with London: +5 h 30 min in UK winter (GMT), +4 h 30 min during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: +10 h 30 min during Eastern Standard Time, +9 h 30 min during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in Sri Lanka: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between London, New York and Sri Lanka
| Time in London | In Colombo (UK winter, GMT) | In Colombo (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 13:30 | 12:30 |
| 12:00 | 17:30 | 16:30 |
| 18:00 | 23:30 | 22:30 |
| 22:00 | 03:30 (next day) | 02:30 (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Colombo (US winter, EST) | In Colombo (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 18:30 | 17:30 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 22:30 | 21:30 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 04:30 (next day) | 03:30 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 08:30 (next day) | 07:30 (next day) |
| Period | Colombo vs London | Colombo vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 25 October – 31 October 2026 | +5 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 1 November 2026 – 13 March 2027 | +5 h 30 min | +10 h 30 min |
| 14 March – 27 March 2027 | +5 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 28 March – 30 October 2027 | +4 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 31 October – 6 November 2027 | +5 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 7 November – 31 December 2027 | +5 h 30 min | +10 h 30 min |
The one-hour difference between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in Sri Lanka does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
Sri Lanka does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+5:30 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
When to call Sri Lanka from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Colombo time, call between 03:30 and 14:30 London time in UK winter, and between 04:30 and 15:30 during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 22:30 and 09:30 (starting the previous evening) during EST, and between 23:30 and 10:30 (starting the previous evening) during EDT.
Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations, and check the times above again around the clock-change dates in the UK and the US.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to Sri Lanka from Europe means travelling east: your day is shortened and you will need to go to bed earlier than usual. From the US East Coast the gap is 10 hours 30 minutes in winter and 9 hours 30 minutes in summer, so you arrive on a later calendar day than you left. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Sri Lanka time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo | Asia/Colombo | UTC+5:30 | UTC+5:30 | — |
- Colombo (
Asia/Colombo): last clock change recorded on Saturday 15 April 2006, from UTC+6 to UTC+5:30. Daylight saving time was applied in some years since 1970 (last: 1996); it no longer is.
No daylight saving time in Sri Lanka in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Asia/Colombo: standard time remains UTC+5:30 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| 2027 period | Colombo vs London | Colombo vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +5 h 30 min | +10 h 30 min |
| 14 March – 27 March | +5 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 28 March – 30 October | +4 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 31 October – 6 November | +5 h 30 min | +9 h 30 min |
| 7 November – 31 December | +5 h 30 min | +10 h 30 min |
Sunrise and sunset in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (6.90° N, 79.95° E); the last column converts them to London time, UK clock changes included. They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:27 | 12:19 | 18:12 | 11 h 46 | 00:57 / 12:42 |
| February | 06:27 | 12:24 | 18:22 | 11 h 54 | 00:57 / 12:52 |
| March | 06:17 | 12:19 | 18:22 | 12 h 05 | 00:47 / 12:52 |
| April | 06:02 | 12:10 | 18:18 | 12 h 16 | 01:32 / 13:48 |
| May | 05:54 | 12:07 | 18:20 | 12 h 26 | 01:24 / 13:50 |
| June | 05:55 | 12:11 | 18:26 | 12 h 31 | 01:25 / 13:56 |
| July | 06:02 | 12:16 | 18:31 | 12 h 29 | 01:32 / 14:01 |
| August | 06:04 | 12:15 | 18:25 | 12 h 21 | 01:34 / 13:55 |
| September | 06:01 | 12:06 | 18:10 | 12 h 10 | 01:31 / 13:40 |
| October | 05:57 | 11:56 | 17:55 | 11 h 59 | 01:27 / 13:25 |
| November | 06:00 | 11:55 | 17:49 | 11 h 49 | 00:30 / 12:19 |
| December | 06:13 | 12:05 | 17:57 | 11 h 43 | 00:43 / 12:27 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (12 h 31 between 05:55 and 18:26), the shortest 15 December (11 h 43).
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in Sri Lanka
- Outbound from the UK (flying east): you « lose » 5 hours 30 minutes in UK winter and 4 hours 30 minutes in summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Return to the UK (flying west): the opposite applies. Flying west is generally considered easier to cope with: you just need to stay up a little later.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 04:30 – 12:30 in Colombo from London in UK winter (03:30 – 11:30 during BST), and to 09:30 – 17:30 from New York during EST (08:30 – 16:30 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the sun rises around 06:27 and sets around 18:12 in mid-January, and around 06:02 and 18:31 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to Sri Lanka
- Our complete Sri Lanka travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Sri Lanka: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between Sri Lanka and the UK or the US?
Sri Lanka is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of London in UK winter and 4 hours 30 minutes ahead during British Summer Time. It is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time and 9 hours 30 minutes ahead during Eastern Daylight Time.
What time is it in Sri Lanka when it is noon in London or New York?
Noon in London is 17:30 in Colombo in UK winter and 16:30 in summer. Noon in New York is 22:30 in Colombo during EST and 21:30 during EDT.
Does Sri Lanka have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC+5:30 all year. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call Sri Lanka from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 03:30 and 14:30 London time in UK winter (04:30 to 15:30 during BST), or between 22:30 and 09:30 New York time (starting the previous evening) during EST (23:30 to 10:30 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for Sri Lanka?
Colombo: Asia/Colombo.
What time does the sun rise in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Around 06:27 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:02 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:12 and 18:31. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes (BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October): GOV.UK, When do the clocks change?, consulted 11 November 2026.
- US daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November): NIST, Daylight Saving Time, consulted 11 November 2026.
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
