Longest and shortest day in Colombo
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 12h 32m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 11h 43m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:14 | 18:21 | 12h 6m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:56 | 18:28 | 12h 32m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:59 | 18:06 | 12h 7m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:16 | 18:00 | 11h 43m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:26 | 18:12 | 11h 46m |
| February | 06:27 | 18:21 | 11h 54m |
| March | 06:17 | 18:21 | 12h 4m |
| April | 06:02 | 18:18 | 12h 16m |
| May | 05:53 | 18:20 | 12h 26m |
| June | 05:55 | 18:26 | 12h 31m |
| July | 06:01 | 18:31 | 12h 29m |
| August | 06:04 | 18:25 | 12h 21m |
| September | 06:01 | 18:10 | 12h 9m |
| October | 05:57 | 17:55 | 11h 58m |
| November | 06:00 | 17:49 | 11h 49m |
| December | 06:13 | 17:57 | 11h 44m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Colombo
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Colombo leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Colombo sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Colombo
When is the longest day in Colombo?
The longest day in Colombo falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 32m of daylight, sunrise at 05:56 and sunset at 18:28.
When is the shortest day in Colombo?
The shortest day in Colombo falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 43m of daylight, sunrise at 06:16 and sunset at 18:00.
How much does day length change through the year in Colombo?
Between the longest and shortest day, Colombo gains and loses about 0h 49m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Colombo's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.