OBJECTIVES:  To access the self-medication practices among urban Sri Lankan adults and their perception regarding self-medication. METHODS:  A descriptive cross sectional study was done on 227 Sri Lankan Urban adults, who are over 20 years of age using convenient sampling using an online data collection form based on a questionnaire. RESULTS:  Self-medication practices were reported by 69% of the surveyed respondents (n=227).Analgesics was reported as the most commonly used drug for self-medication (80.8%). Significant relationship between the educational level and the use of self-medication was observed (p=0.001). The relation between status of employment and the use of self-medication was significant (p=0.001). Majority of the respondents (68.6%) used the previous prescriptions given by a doctor to obtain drugs on their own, for a subsequent illness. The most commonly reported reason for self-medication practices was the insignificant nature of minor illnesses (59%).Inability to understand the instructions provided in the package insert of the drugs was reported by 67.1% of the respondents .35.5% of the respondents affirmed the efficacy of ‘self-medication drugs’ by marking 5 on a scale of 1-5, 5 being most positive. CONCLUSIONS:  It was revealed that self-medication is a common practice among the Urban Sri Lankan population and a range of drugs are being used for this purpose. But the capability of the individuals to practice “responsible self-medication” was unsatisfactory so it is crucial to enforce the required regulations and strategies related to drug use and to raise awareness regarding potential implications of the same among the public.