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Sun & Sand

A characteristic fishing town north of Colombo, Negombo is a mere 6 km drive from the international airport. Set amidst lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a gourmet’s paradise with sea food in plenty. Old-world fishing craft, like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran, bring seer, skipjack, herring, mullet, pomfret and amber jack, while lobster and prawn are caught in the lagoon.

An important spice-trading centre controlled at various times by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Today, it has a reputation for fine basket ware (visit basket hall) and also for the best mangosteens(fruits) on the island. Passing Kalutara South of the Kalu Ganga Bridge is the Gangatilleke Vihara, which has a hollow dagoba (Buddhist shrine) with an interesting painted terior. By the roadside there’s a small shrine and a bodhi tree where drivers often stop to make offerings to ensure a safe journey. Wadduwa is 8km north of Kalutara.

South of Colombo, Beruwela marks the beginning of a 130 km-stretch of beaches, where resort development has made immense strides in recent years. Good bathing in the bay all year round. Holiday-makers should not miss bathing in the bay

Bentota Resort complex is a romantic rendezvous of river and sea with several hotels, railway station, post office, shopping arcade, cafeteria and an open-air theatre showing folk and mask-dancing with clusters of palms overlooking everything.

South of Colombo, Galle is the most important Southern town. It has an old world charm. Believed to be the “Tarshish of the Bible”, its natural harbour was a famous fort in days gone by. Galle is famous for its Dutch Fort, lace-making, ebony carving and gem polishing

Arugam Bay is a fishing village 3km south of the small town of Pottuvil at the remote southern end of the east coast. It probably has the best surf in Sri Lanka, which forms near a low promontory a little further south, and because of this it has developed into a hang-out for low-budget travelers. There’s a wide, sweeping beach in front of the village itself which is good for swimming and south of the surf promontory a long, deserted beach leads down to ‘Crocodile Rock’, from where wild elephants can quite often be seen. The best period for surfing is between April and September and during this season the number of travelers – most of whom are diehard surfers – visiting the area increases. When the season ends the place empties and some guesthouses and restaurants shut up shop, but this may be just what you’re after.