Weligama is a Urban Council in Matara

Matara, Sri Lanka

Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...

 district on the southern coast of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...

. The term Weligama literally means "sandy village" which refers to the area's sandy sweep bay. Tourism & Fishing are two main business. Situated at a distance of 144 km from Colombo, Weligama is a popular tourist destination and hosts several boutique hotels. It is most famous for its distinct stilt fishermen and an off shore islet known as Taprobane

Taprobane Island

Taprobane Island is a rocky private island with one villa, located just off the southern coast of Sri Lanka opposite the village of Weligama,. The island was named after the old Greek word for Sri Lanka. The island was previously owned by the Count de Maunay who, exiled from France, fell in love...

, where a dream house of French Count de Mauny was built, and is owned today by Geoffrey Dobbs (www.taprobaneisland.com). There are many sites of historical importance and tourist attractions within Weligama and its vicinity.

In Weligama there are Sinhalese , Moors (Arabs), Tamils, Malays and Burghers. Also, all major religions are represented in Weligama including Islam, Buddhism, Christianity (both Catholics and Protestants) and Hinduism.