A wide, gently curving bay just west of Mirissa, known for beginner-friendly surf and the famous stilt fishermen of the south coast.

Overview

Weligama Bay is a broad, shallow bay a few kilometres west of Mirissa, its long sandy beach fringed with coconut palms. Its gentle, consistent waves make it one of the best places in Sri Lanka to learn to surf, and the beach is lined with surf schools and board-rental shacks. The area is also associated with the south coast's traditional stilt fishermen, who perch on poles set in the shallows, and the little island of Taprobane sits offshore near the town.

History

Weligama, meaning 'sandy village', has long been a fishing town on the south coast and the setting for the region's celebrated stilt-fishing tradition. In recent decades its gentle bay has made it a leading surf-learning centre, drawing beginner surfers from around the world.