The tourism potential of the south coast lies fully tapped , a reason why it
is one of the major tourist hubs of the island kingdom. With its white sandy
beaches, serene lagoons and towns echoing the colonial years, the south coast is
an ideal vacation for the tourists.
Beruwala
The starting point of the most popular beach resorts of the south , Beruwala
houses a large number of hotels to meet the ever increasing flow of tourists.
Bentota
Lying south of Beruwala, Bentota, with its sandy beaches, shallow waters, beach
fronts and large hotels, is the ideal Sri Lankan beach holiday. A major
attraction is the fresh water lagoon which is also a popular location for water
racing.
Ambalangoda
Famous mostly for it's wooden masks and puppets, Ambalangoda has quite a few
beaches too. In addition, there are several famous Buddhist temples close to
Ambalangoda. Tourists can stay at the small scale guest houses available in the
area.
Unawatuna
120 km. from Colombo, it has the distinction of having one of the finest beaches
in Sri Lanka. It also serves as a spawning ground for turtles. A major tourist
destination, indeed.
Galle
Declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, Galle is the capital of the
southern province. The city nestles in the memories of a colourful past with the
magnificent Dutch fort as its most popular attraction. The air around is still
pervaded by the 300 year old Dutch atmosphere. Also, the ancient colonial
buildings lie almost unmolested by skyscrapers.
Hikkaduwa
The ideal place for water sports with coral reefs abounding in tropical fish,
clear waters and a magnificient white beachline and ship wrecks for the divers
to explore. A profusion of hotels, shops and restaurants have added to its
popularity.
Matara
Famous for the unique star shaped fort, Matara is also home to several beautiful
and less frequented beaches. The 25m high colourful Buddha statue built at
Veherahena Temple is another major attraction here. With the terminus of the
coastal rail line, it is an important town of the south.