Weligama is a small coastal town 29.2km south of Galle Fort and a short distance north of the popular tourist spot of Mirissa. Weligama literally means "village by the beach or village by the sand" The main industries in town are fishing, rice farming, lace making and tourism.

Weligama has a very rustic town centre where the basic necessities of life are available. Among the scruffy shops of the main street there is a small outlet of one of the biggest supermarket chains on the island. The air-conditioned western style supermarket has everything one would need for self-catering and has a far better range of products than the other shops in town.

The beach is less crowded than in many other tourist towns even though there are two large luxury resort hotels. Weligama has a wide choice of accommodation to suit all types of travellers and all budgets. In addition to the resorts there are a number of smaller hotels, villas and colonial period properties that have been turned into guest houses. With its wide range of accommodation Weligama attracts a wide range of travellers including backpackers, digital nomads, millionaires, surfers, rock stars, yogis and many more.

The main attraction of the town is the palm fringed golden sandy beach that runs along the huge bay on the seafront. The town's quietness is perhaps what distinguishes it from other tourist spots along the cost making it an ideal place to relax and get away from it all. After visiting Weligama Kylie Minougue wrote a song, it went something like this..."When I'm all alone, dreaming of where I want to go again...Oh, tell me, tell me you'll never, ever change."

SURFING

The south coast of Sri Lanka is one of the most popular surfing destinations on the island. Gentle waves in some parts of the bay make it ideal for beginners and intermediates alike while other parts are more suitable for experienced surfers. Popular surfing points in Weligama include Beach Break, Reef Brakes, Ram’s Point, Plantation Point, and Two Secret Point.

It is important that beginners get surfing lessons from the professionals before venturing into the bay. There are surf schools on the beach, the cost of lessons and board rentals are incredibly chap making Weligama one of the most affordable destinations for surf lessons. The best time to go surfing on the south-western coast is the morning when the waves are just in the months right between December and April.

YOGA

Yoga is not something that is common in Sri Lanka and is still remains unknown to the majority of the population. However, with the influx of tourism yoga retreats have mushroomed in tourist spots along the coastal towns of the island including Weligama.

Numerous rustic yoga retreats that run courses for aspiring yoga teachers are also found dotted along the coast. The retreats are mostly run by travelling yoga teachers from Europe or Australia and attended by an increasing number of educated women who dream of becoming yoga teachers as a path for exiting the rat race back home.

WHALE & DOLPHIN WATCHING

In recent times Sri Lanka has evolved into one of the world's leading destinations for whale watching. The sea around Weligama is home to a range of whales and dolphin species.

Sri Lanka is located on one of the most important cetacean migratory routes on earth. This means the possibilities of spotting Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Humpback Whales and Spinner Dolphins in Sri Lankan territorial waters are very high. In the period between December and April, the southern coast of Sri Lanka becomes the best place in the world for whale watching as sightings are usually reported on a daily basis.

Nearby Mirissa is the main spot where most whale watching tours are based. There is a choice of basic to luxury tours which can make the whole experience of seeing the magnificent creatures rather easy, relaxing, and enjoyable.

EXPLORING

The rural interior of Sri Lanka is not far from Weligama. There are rubber plantations, rice fields, spice gardens, tea estates, Buddhist temples and many more hidden gems within a short distance from the coast for the more curious to explore.

RELAXING

One of the most popular activities among visitors to Weligama is to do nothing at all. No matter how old or young you may be, It is a destination to relax, get a tan and watch the sunsets. Sri Lankan sunsets are among the most beautiful in the world and can be enjoyed at Weligama for free while relaxing on the beach with a cool drink in hand.

For now Weligama remains a quiet seaside town because Sri Lanka attracts a relatively small number of tourists. In the past ten years visitor numbers have increased by nearly seven times but still remain small at about twenty percent of the number of visitors who go to Bali. So places like Weligama have yet to be built on and developed into resorts like those we see in the mediatorian or east asia.

For travellers who prefer places that are untouched by mass tourism and have an interest in surfing, yoga or relaxation, Weligama may be an ideal destination.