NEGOMBO

A characteristic fishing town 37km. north of Colombo , it is a mere 6 km. from the International Airport . Set amid lush groves of coconut palms, it breathes the spirit of the sea, this is one of Sri Lanka ‘s oldest fishing villages, having a quiet charm reflected in its Churches dating back to the 17th century. The beaches are beautiful and you will enjoy watching the fishermen bring in their daily haul of fish.

To protect the harbor entrance, the Portuguese and Dutch built a small fort at the northern end of the lagoon; you can visit its gate buildings (1678), behind which the prison is located. On its eastern side is the downtown area, which extends one kilometer to the railway station. To the north begins the beach, its first two kilometers dominated by fishermen (fish market one kilometer from the fort), the next three kilometers the province of the tourists, with rows of hotels.

Negombo is a gourmet’s paradise with seafood in plenty. Old world fishing craft like the outrigger canoe and the catamaran bring seer, skipjack, herring and mullet, pomfret and amber – jack while lobster and prawns are caught in the lagoon. At night the resort takes on carnival atmosphere as little pubs, discos and pizzerias outdo each other to attract visitor interest.