Beruwala, in Kalutara District on Sri Lanka’s south-west coast, is one of the oldest documented Arab trading settlements on the island. The Muslim community here traces its presence to at least the 8th century CE, and the Kechimalai Mosque on the rocky headland above the bay is considered one of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka. Alongside its historical significance, Beruwala is an active fishing centre with a large fleet of outrigger canoes and motorised boats operating from the beach and the Beruwala Fish Market, the largest on Sri Lanka’s west coast.
A fishing village tour takes visitors through the early morning activity of the working harbour â observing the landing of the overnight catch, the sorting and informal auctioning process, and the traditional craft of boat building and net repair still practiced here. The tour provides direct insight into the rhythm of a coastal community that has maintained its distinctly Muslim cultural character across many centuries. The old lighthouse at Beruwala Point, one of the earliest colonial-era lighthouses in Sri Lanka, is a prominent local landmark.
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