Mirissa
Sun, Sea and Sand
On the southern coast of Sri Lanka, palm-fringed Mirissa
has an attractive, crescent-shaped beach lapped by the
warm, calm waters of the Indian Ocean. Mirissa is 10 km west
of Matara (150 km from Colombo) and it is still
a quiet retreat away from the resort centres, although
its popularity is beginning to increase. With its limited
number of places to stay, Mirissa will continue to be
a pleasant place to relax during a tour of the island
for sometime yet.
What to See and Do
Weligama is just 5 km west of Mirissa beyond the headland and
across Weligama Bay. It is a very active fishing area,
and wind conditions permitting, fishermen work along
the entire coast, staying close to the shore for safety
as most of their boats are outrigger canoes or kattamarans
(narrow rafts) - a trip on one may be arranged through
Tikalanka Tours. Only a small number of the boats are modern
and suitable for deep sea fishing, so casting nets are
used in shallow coastal areas and in lagoons.
Mostly in the late afternoon and early evening, you can see
the fishermen's helpers on the shore, hard at work with
the difficult task of hauling in the drag nets, often
aided by enthusiastic tourists! In addition, several
places around Weligama are known for their "stilt fishermen"
who, perched on poles, cast their lines into the surf.
The area is also known for its hand-made
lace, and, like Ambalangoda, Devil Dances (sanni yakuma)
are held in neighbouring villages.
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