Good Friday is a significant religious holiday in Sri Lanka and is observed with great reverence by the Christian community. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary, according to the Christian Bible. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday.
The most prominent observation of the day is at the church, where a service is held in the afternoon to remember the death of Jesus Christ. Church services feature the Passion of Christ, the narrative of Jesus's trial, suffering and death, through the use of the Stations of the Cross. In some churches, this is followed by the procession of the epitaphios, a cloth icon depicting the burial of Jesus, which represents his body.
However, Good Friday in Sri Lanka is not only about solemn commemorations. There is also a focus on charity and compassion for the less fortunate, inspired by Jesus’s teachings. Many Christians spend the day in fasting, prayer, penance, and charity. Despite it being a public holiday, the day is considered a day of mourning rather than a day of rest, with businesses and schools often remaining open, but running on a limited schedule. The day ends with a quiet anticipation of Easter Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection, which follows Good Friday, as per Christian faith.