Beruwala marks Sri Lanka's first recorded Muslim settlement, established by Arab traders around the 8th century AD, and today its Kechimalai Mosque overlooks a rocky headland separating the old harbour from a stretch of beach resorts.
60 kmDistance from Colombo
~1.5 hrsTypical drive time
The town blends an active fishing harbour with a longer-established resort strip, giving it a slightly more lived-in feel than some purpose-built beach destinations further south.