Weligama

Weligama is a town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in Matara District, Southern Province. The town has a beautiful sandy sweep bay and is approximately 144 kilometers south of Colombo. Weligama is a popular tourist destination and hosts several boutique hotels. The main industries are tourism and fishing. The area is famous for its distinct stilt fishermen and is also recognized for its beeralu bobbin lace-making, which was first introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Visitors can explore the town's historical sites, including a 3-meter high bas-relief statue of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, carved into the surrounding rock between the 6th-9th century AD. Udukawa, a village in the area, has a population of around 5,000 residents and is situated nearby to the town Thelijjawila