List of beaches in Sri Lanka

Negombo

Negombo is a beach town located 7 km (4.3 mi) from Bandaranaike International Airport and approximately 37 km (23 mi) from Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is also located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. The town's economy is based largely on tourism and the fishing industry, as it's home to wide beaches and a calm sea.

Mount Lavinia

Mount Lavinia is a city located 12 km (7.5 mi) from Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is considered a middle-class and mostly residential suburb of Colombo. The city is known for its "Golden Mile" of beaches, making it a popular tourism location in Sri Lanka. Mount Lavinia's name comes from Sir Thomas Maitland who was the Governor General of Ceylon from 1805 to 1811. He fell in love with a local mestizo dancer, Lovina, at his welcoming party on the island and eventually had a secret affair with her for a short period of time.

Kalutara

Kalutara is a city located 43 km (27 mi) from Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It has a tropical climate with beaches lined with palm trees and is considered an up-and-coming resort town. It used to be a prominent spice trading center during colonial times and still contains that historic nature. It's also home to the world's only hollow Buddhist Shrine and the Richmond Castle, a plantation mansion.

Beruwala

Beruwala is a city located 55 km (34 mi) south of Colombo and 92 km (57 mi) south of Bandaranaike International Airport. It is the first main beach resort in the south western coastal belt and can be reached by the main Colombo-Galle motor road (A2) as well as the Southern Coastal Railway line. It is also a large fishing center in Sri Lanka.

Bentota

Bentota is a city located 64 km (40 mi) south of Colombo. It is approximately 101 km (63 mi) south of Bandaranaike International Airport. It is largely a rural area and the land is dominated by tall coconut palm trees. It can be reached by the Colombo-Galle main road (A2) as well as the Colombo-Galle-Matara Southern Railway line.

Pasikudah & Kalkudah

Kalkudah and Passekudah are two beaches located 34 km (21 mi) north of Batticaloa. Passekudah is a busy tourist spot with numerous luxury hotels and shallow beaches. In contrast, Kalkudah is mostly deserted due to the civil war and 2004 tsunami.

Unawatuna

Unawatuna is a city located 140 km (87 mi) south of Colombo. The beach is semi-circular and stretches approximately one kilometer. Unawatuna is also known for its sea turtle population and tourists are able to witness them laying eggs along the shore at various times during the year. Although it had suffered heavily in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami events that hit Sri Lanka and southeast Asia countries, this seaside community was rebuilt quickly, and touristic activity was resumed.

Mirissa

Mirissa is a beach located close to the southern tip of Sri Lanka and approximately 200 km (120 mi) from the Equator. It is mostly crescent-shaped and secluded. It is also located just 4 km (2.5 mi) southeast of Weligama, a town on the south coast of Sri Lanka.

Weligama

Weligama is a small fishing town located about 30 km (19 mi) east of Galle. It's relatively quiet and is located around a broad bay. The name Weligama is translated to "Sandy Village" and describes the surrounding landscape. The beach is also known for its stilt fishermen. Weligama can be reached by the main A2 Colombo-Galle-Matara motor way, the Southern Expressway and the Colombo-Matara Railway line.

Polhena

Polhena is a beach located in Matara and contains a 4 km (2.5 mi) long coral reef about 200 m (660 ft) off the shore. Because of this, the water near the shore is relatively calm and is a common spot for tourists to swim. Numerous people can be seen scuba diving, surfing and sunbathing along Polhena Beach.

Dickwella

Dickwella beach, also known as Dikwella or Dikwella South, is a small coastal town in the Matara district of Sri Lanka. It is located 22 km (14 mi) east of Matara. Sri Lanka's largest Buddhist statue is located in Dickwella as well. Many people swim along the shores of Dickwella beach because the waters are protected by headlands, reefs and sandbars.

Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka about 14 km (8.7 mi) northwest of Galle. It is Sri Lanka's most developed beach resort and is a well-known surfing spot as well as an easy spot to see sea turtles. The surrounding waters contain a coral sanctuary that is a large shallow body of water enclosed by a reef. There is also a small collection of small islets off the beach.

Koggala

Koggala is a small village on Sri Lanka's south coast and is a well-known surfing destination. It is located 130 km (81 mi) south of Colombo. The Koggala River and Koggala Lake are also located in the area. The village is also known for the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Art Museum.

Tangalle

Tangalle is a town located 35 km (22 mi) east of Matara and 195 km (121 mi) south of Colombo. It comprises several bays, including Goyambokka, Pallikkudawa, Medaketiya and Medilla. Tangalle is also known as a common swimming and diving destination. The name Tangalle is believed to be derived from ran-gala or golden rock.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee is a deepwater harbor and is home to the beaches of Nilaveli, Uppuveli and the off-shore Pigeon Island. It is known as a whale watching destination and the seven hot springs of at Kanniya are located only 8 km (5.0 mi) away. The Trincomalee district is considered a major Buddhist cultural and archaeological site of Sri Lanka.

Nilaveli

Nilaveli is a beach resort town in the Trinco region and is only 4 km (2.5 mi) long. It is located 276 km (171 mi) from Colombo and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Trincomalee.

Batticaloa

Batticaloa is a major city located in the Batticaloa district of the Eastern Province. The town sits on a strip of land with the Indian Ocean to the east and estuarine lagoons surrounding it. It is considered a popular snorkeling and scuba diving spot because of the rich coral along the coast. Batticaloa Lagoon is also known for its "singing fish" near the Kallady bridge, a couple kilometers from the town center. The musical sound comes from a marine creature that resides in the waters of the lagoon.

Arugam Bay

Arugam Bay is located 317 km (197 mi) from Colombo and contains a wide beach with several fishing villages nearby. It is located in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. It has been identified as the best surfing beach in Sri Lanka and the fourth best in southeast Asia. Lahugal National Park and Yala East National Park are also locating within a 10–30 km (6.2–18.6 mi) radius from the Arugam Bay center. Magul Maha Viharaya (Buddhist temple), Kudumbigala Temple (Buddhist temple), Shastrwela Buddhist Temple, Okanda Hindu Temple are several sacred temples in the area.

Casuarina Beach

Casuarina Beach which is in Karainagar, Jaffna District about 20 km (12 mi) from Jaffna of Northern Province. It used to be a popular tourist destination, but tourist numbers have declined due to Sri Lankan Civil War. However, after the end of the three decades long war, the beaches unspoilt location has led to a growing number of visitors.

Kilaaly Beach

Kilaaly Beach, also known as Kilali Beach, is located in the Jaffna District of the Northern Province. The region is very quiet and the beach is largely deserted.

Vankalai

Vankalai is a major fishing village in Mannar, of Northern Province. The beach lacks water activities and is often scattered with trash due to fishing.

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