1979 in Sri Lanka

Incumbents

• President - J. R. Jayewardene
• Prime Minister - Ranasinghe Premadasa
• Chief Justice - Neville Samarakoon

  Events

• Sri Lanka defeated India in the ICC World Cup. They were the winners of the inaugural ICC Trophy, ahead of the cricket World Cup.
• Ethnic tensions and political unrest increase, as the Tamil minority realize their political party is having minimal success in the south.

  Births

• 4 January - Chamila Gamage, cricketer.
• 27 February - Sanjaya Rodrigo, cricketer.
• 28 February - Dinesh Lalinda, cricketer.
• 2 March - Dharshana Gamage, cricketer.
• 28 March - Duminda Dissanayake, politician.
• 30 March - Malaka Dewapriya, film maker.
• 2 April - Amila Perera, cricketer.
• 13 May - Krishantha Ukwatte, cricketer.
• 26 May - Malinda Warnapura, cricketer.
• 22 June - Buddhika Mendis, cricketer.
• 10 July - Dinesh Subasinghe, musician.
• 11 July - Nisitha Rupasinghe, cricketer.
• 19 July - Dilhara Fernando, cricketer.
• 29 July - Chaminda Ruwan, cricketer.
• 10 August - Dinusha Fernando, cricketer.
• 14 August - Ranga Dias, cricketer.
• 11 September - Thuwan Raheem, footballer.
• 28 September - Mahesh Bogahalanda, cricketer.
• 6 October - Chanuka Bandara, cricketer.
• 7 October - Sujeewa de Silva, cricketer.
• 9 October - Prasanna Jayawardene, cricketer.
• 14 October - Hasantha Fernando, cricketer.
• 26 October - Indika Basnayake, cricketer.
• 29 October - Duminda Perera, cricketer.
• 2 December - Manju Wanniarachchi, boxer.
• 4 December - Wenura Caldera, cricketer.
• 14 December - Chamara Silva, cricketer.
• 17 December - Upekha Fernando, cricketer.
• 31 December - Malinga Bandara, cricketer.

  Deaths

• 17 February - K. Alvapillai, civil servant.
• 23 May - S. Selvanayagam, geographer and academic.
• 14 August - N. M. Perera, politician.
• 15 September - Don Carlin Gunawardena, academic.
• 28 December - Dommie Jayawardena, actor and singer.
• Unknown date - I. J. Wickrema, trade unionist.