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Sri Lanka is affected by extreme precipitation events every year, which cause floods, landslides and tremendous economic losses. We use the ERA5 reanalysis data set to understand the association of extreme precipitation events with 30 weather patterns, which were originally derived to represent the variability of the Indian climate during January–December 1979–2016. We find that weather patterns that are most common during the northeast monsoon (December–February) and second intermonsoon (October–November) seasons produce the highest number of extreme precipitation events. Furthermore, extreme precipitation events occurring during these two seasons are more persistent than those during the southwest monsoon (May–September) and first intermonsoon (March–April) seasons. We analyze the modulation of extreme precipitation events by the Madden‐Julian Oscillation, and find that their frequency is enhanced (suppressed) in phases 1–4 (5–8) for most weather patterns. Extreme rainfall events affect Sri Lanka every year, causing floods, landslides and tremendous losses. Thus, it is important to identify weather patterns that are associated with these events. Furthermore, it is important to understand how the dominant modes of the tropical intraseasonal variability, such as the Madden‐Julian Oscillation, modulate their occurrence. In this study, we use the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts ERA5 reanalysis data set to understand the association between extreme precipitation events and a set of 30 weather patterns that were originally derived to understand the variability of the Indian climate. Our results suggest that weather patterns that are most common during winter and autumn seasons produce the highest number of extreme precipitation events in Sri Lanka, and these events are more persistent than those occurring during summer and spring seasons. The frequency of extreme precipitation events is enhanced when the Madden‐Julian Oscillation is active over the Indian Ocean. Extreme precipitation in Sri Lanka occurs most frequently in weather patterns associated with the northeast and second intermonsoon seasonsIn weather patterns with the largest frequency of extreme precipitation events, extreme precipitation can persist for five consecutive daysThe frequency of extreme precipitation events is enhanced in phases 1–4 of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation Extreme precipitation in Sri Lanka occurs most frequently in weather patterns associated with the northeast and second intermonsoon seasons In weather patterns with the largest frequency of extreme precipitation events, extreme precipitation can persist for five consecutive days The frequency of extreme precipitation events is enhanced in phases 1–4 of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation