During the demarcation of the Southern Province in 1893, Matara was identified as a key district. Matara town continues to serve as a main city with a history of 600 years.
Among the places of religious value in the Matara town are the Bo tree and the Shrine of Our Lady of Matara. The Sacred Bo tree is in the heart of the town just opposite the Uyanwatta Stadium.
This Sacred tree was made famous by Kalidasa, one of the greatest Sanskrit poets of India, and his friend Kumaradasa. This Bo tree is venerated by Buddhists since it is one of the seven Bo trees in Hath Bodhiya.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Matara was built in 1908. Although Matara is predominantly a Buddhist town, the annual church feast held in September attracts crowds from all four corners of the country, depicting religious harmony. The statue is taken in procession during the festival period and is believed to possess miraculous powers.
The Mirissa Fisheries Harbour is one of the busiest fisheries harbours that are situated along the coastal belt of the country.
MIRISSA BAY
Mirissa is about 154 kilometres away from Colombo. The golden sandy beach in Mirissa is loved by both foreigners and local visitors. It is the best place for whale and dolphin watching activities, deep sea diving and snorkelling. These wonderful activities are supervised by experienced experts. Everyone should gain this experience in Mirissa at least once in his or her lifetime. Nowadays, activities are being conducted giving prominence to COVID-19 health guidelines.
These activities such as whale watching could be enjoyed onboard the Sri Lanka Navy’s passenger craft “Princess of Lanka”. It was launched on January 30, 2011. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy these facilities while relaxing at star class hotels and regular hotels.
Mirissa attracts crowds of all walks of life. It is a tourist hotspot. During the holiday seasons in November and April, it attracts many visitors. There is no difference during the off-season in May and October as well.
The boat owners who accompany tourists and locals to watch dolphins said there is no proper place for visitors to get onto the boats and the smell emanating from heaps of garbage scattered all over the area is unbearable. They said this is their only income that keeps their home fires burning. They also said they have to spend at least two hours on one trip. They said they do not receive any relief measure from the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour or the authorities concerned. They said this profession also increases the foreign exchange flows into the country. They said though the present regime is engaged in developing the tourism industry it has not focused on providing relief measures and financial assistance to them to develop their livelihood.
The dilapidated buildings on either side of the main road tarnish the image maintained by the Mirissa Bay as a tourist attraction. Some of the buildings belong to the colonial era. There should be at least one state-of-the-art shopping complex though there is nothing. The main road that runs through Mirissa is narrow with bends.
