Nessia layardi, commonly known as Layard's snake skink or Layard's nessia, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Scincinae of the family Scincidae.

[2] The specific name, layardi, is in honor of British naturalist Edgar Leopold Layard.

[1] A poorly known skink from the hills of the Central Province and the wet zone coastal areas, known localities include Millawa, Wellawatte, Lunava, and Polgahawela.

It inhabits moist soil and decaying leaf litter, especially at the base of trees, at elevations up to 150 m (490 ft).

[1] The eggs, which are produced around March, are deposited in heaps of coconut leaves or in silt over stony substratum.