Shimmering in the Indian Ocean, this lush green tropical island lies surrounded by glorious sandy beaches framed by idyllic coconut palms and fishing boats bobbing in the blue expanse of water silhouetted in the golden sunset. The warm rays of the sultry sun falling on the golden sands, the calm breeze that titillates the waves into a surfers' paradise or the wonders of the rich and varied undersea world paints a spellbinding picture of paradise.

Negombo
The major beach resort in the West Coast is Negombo. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the major attractions of Negombo, a traditional fishing town. Besides the beach, the fish market is worth visiting where busy trading of a variety of fish including prawns, crabs and seer takes place in the mornings when the fishing crafts return to the shore with their catch. The most popular fishing craft is the outrigger canoe called oruwa dug out from a huge log and is seen in large numbers in the Negombo lagoon.

Beruwela
58km to the south of Colombo, together with Bentota further south, has been developed into Sri Lanka's chief package tour resort zone. It has a long string of midrange and top-end hotels along its fine beach, where locals address foreigners initially in German. There's little to attract independent ravellers here. Morgalle is techinally slightly north of Beruwela, but it has practically merged with it.
Hikkaduwam
Hikkaduwam, 98 km south of Colombo, has long been among the most popular of Sri Lanka's beach spots. It's the variety that attracts people - accommodation ranges from handful of top-end hotels to heaps of laidback guesthouses for backpackers. Hikkaduwa has swallowed the village south of it and it's thee or four km long - sprea out on either side of the road and along the beach. There's a varied choice of beach and sea - coral for snorkellers, waves for boards and bod surfers, and good wide strips of sand, backed by cafes, if you just want to sit back and relax.

Unawatuna
Four kilometers south of Galle is Unawatuna (120 km. from Colombo), a wide, curving bay with a picturesque sweep of golden beach Swiming is safe thank to the reef that protects the beach, and unlike Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna does not have a dangerously busy road running through it. These factors have made Unawatuna popular with travellers, including package-tour groups and locals. on public holidays and weekands in particular, Unawatuna can get very crowded.

Trincomalee
Trincomalee is the gateway to some of the finest beaches in Sri Lanka : Uppuveli and Nilaveli. With one of the world 's best deep harbours, it is the East's largest industrial centre and naval base, and a potential economc centre postwar. There are handful of things to see in town and prety view across the three main bays, but many people pass through on their way to the beach.

Kalkudah & Passekudah
The long, wide, fine white-sand beaches around Kalkudah Bay Stretch south beaches around Kalkudah Bay stretch south for kilometres, while curved Passekudah Bay is more compact, but still impressively vast. The Kalkudah beach from the sweep of Passekudah, where the reef turns the bay into a calm, blue, shallow swimming area. The combined area of Passekudah and Kalkudah is an ideal stretch for bathing, windsurfing and water skiingnd beautiful shoals of fish can be explored either by snorkeling or taking a ride in a glass bottom boat.

Batticaloa
Like most other coastal townships, Batticaloa was under Portuguese and Dutch rule. A Dutch Fort stands close to the Batticaloa lagoon. The most famous attraction of Batticaloa is its 'Singing Fish'. On full moon nights a faint but distinct musical sound rises from the lagoon waters. This is attributed to a noise emanated by a kind of fish found in the lagoon.

Nilaveli
This is a prime beach resort in the East Coast. It is ideally suited for sun bathing, sea bathing and diving. A few meters off shore is a small rocky island good for snorkeling.

Mount Lavinia
Mount Lavinia, on the southern fringe of Colombo, only seven miles from the centre, acts as the city beach. It is a fine beach situated in a crowded suburb of Lavinia. Locals come to the beach on weekends to participate in beach and water sports and listen to live music.

Koggala
Koggala beach is about 12 kms south of Galle. Koggala beach is one of the most enchanting in Sri Lanka. Stilt -Fisherman are a familiar sight here.

Source: Sri Lanka Travel Info