Weligama is located at a distance of 143 km south of Colombo along the southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka.Weligama was significantly affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with 15% of the area destroyed, with over 2,200 houses damaged or washed away, and 469 reported deaths.Weligama is a popular tourist destination and hosts several boutique hotels. The name Weligama i
tself, in Sinhala, means `Sandy Village’ which is a direct reference to the sandy bay beach in the town. The loveliest stretch of the bay beach is around the island of Taprobane. Most often dozens of traditional colourful outrigger boats are seen pulled up following their night fishing expeditions.Weligama beach is famous for its stilt fishermen. In chest-deep water on the beach, just a few meters off-shore, are the stilt fishermen perched on a cross bar fixed on a single pole planted into the sea-bed.
