This page lists notable events that took place during the year 2020 in Sri Lanka.
Incumbents
National
Former
Provincial
Governors
Central Province – Lalith U Gamage
Eastern Province – Anuradha Yahampath
North Central Province – Tissa Vitharana
Northern Province – P. S. M. Charles
North Western Province – A. J. M. Muzammil
Sabaragamuwa Province – Tikiri Kobbekaduwa
Southern Province – Willy Gamage
Uva Province – Raja Collure
Western Province – Seetha Arambepola
Chief Ministers
Central Province – Sarath Ekanayake
Eastern Province – Ahamed Nazeer Zainulabdeen
North Central Province – Peshala Jayarathne
Northern Province – C. V. Vigneswaran
North Western Province – Dharmasiri Dassanayake
Sabaragamuwa Province – Maheepala Herath
Southern Province – Shan Wijayalal De Silva
Uva Province – Chamara Sampath Dassanayake
Western Province – Isura Devapriya
Events
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
2019–present Sri Lankan economic crisis
Events by month
January
3 January − A Harbin Y-12 light transport aircraft crashes near Haputale. All four people on board, which were members of the Sri Lanka Air Force, are killed. 25 January − The first reported case of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka was identified and the victim was reported to be a Chinese woman. 26 January − 2020 Ditrău xenophobic incident: A xenophobic incident occurs in Ditrău, Romania. It involves two Sri Lankan immigrant workers and the local Hungarian population.
February
14 February − The United States issues a travel ban against General Shavendra Silva and his family for human rights violations. 19 February − Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa announces that Sri Lanka would withdraw its co-sponsorship of a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for an investigation into alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War. 23 February − The final stage of the Southern Expressway linking to Hambantota is opened to the public.
March
10 March − The first local Sri Lankan national tests positive for COVID-19. 12 March − All schools in Sri Lanka are closed until 20 April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 16 March − The Sri Lankan government declares a national public holiday to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country. 24 March − Sri Lanka records 100 COVID-19 patients. 27 March − The first Sri Lankan national dies from COVID-19, a man who lived in Switzerland. 28 March − The first death from COVID-19 in Si Lanka is reported.
April
11 April − Sri Lanka records 200 COVID-19 patients. 20 April − Sri Lanka records 300 COVID-19 patients. 24 April − Sri Lanka records 400 COVID-19 patients. 26 April − Sri Lanka records 500 COVID-19 patients. 29 April − Sri Lanka records 600 COVID-19 patients.
May
2 May − Sri Lanka records 700 COVID-19 patients. 7 May − Sri Lanka records 800 COVID-19 patients. 11 May − State and government businesses begin work under government rules and health restrictions. 13 May − Sri Lanka records 900 COVID-19 patients. 19 May − Sri Lanka records 1000 COVID-19 patients. 21 May − 2020 Maligawatta stampede: A stampede occurs near a Muslim Jumma residence in Maligawatta, Colombo, resulting in the death of 3 women and leaving further nine injured. 24 May − Sri Lanka records 1100 COVID-19 patients. 26 May − Sri Lanka records 1300 COVID-19 patients with a record of 137 new cases in a day. 27 May − Sri Lanka records 1500+ COVID-19 patients with a record of 150 new cases in a day. 30 May − Sri Lanka records 1600 COVID-19 patients. 31 May − 2019–2022 locust infestation: An infestation of yellow-spotted locusts is reported in multiple farmlands across Mawathagama, Kurunegala.