Arugam Bay is a world famous hot spot for surfing which attracts many local and foreign tourists. Arugam Bay is located on the east coast of Sri Lanka with a world class surfing beach that is recognized as the best in Sri Lanka, ranked fourth best in South East Asia and comes within the top ten in the world – a true surfing paradise !

Arugam Bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo and can reach within seven hours via Monaragala. Arugam Bay beach is a wide sweeping sandy beach in front of the village ‘Ullai’ is an attraction for swimming all year round.

The beach isn’t the only attraction in the area. The countryside of the village of Arugam Bay brings about divinest sceneries that span over mangrove, jungles, lagoons, temples, rice fields and rolling dunes.

The surfing season in Arugam Bay starts in April and ends in October. During the season the wind is predominantly offshore. Two kilometers inland from Arugam Bay is the scenic Pottuvil Lagoon.

The season for off – shore Dolphin viewing at Arugam Bay beach is the period from May to September that falls within the high season. 12 km south of Arugam Bay is Panama, the last inhabited village that precedes the Yala East National Park. Panama that stays somewhat inland yet intersects with lagoons which are rich in bird life.

20 km south of Panama is the village of Okanda that has a popular surfing spot. The village is home to a famous shrine located at the point God Skanda is believed to have landed on the island.

Kumuna Bird Sanctuary, fed by a channel from the river Kumbukkan Oya is the focal point of Yala East National Park. About 20 km into the park is Kumuna reservoir of which mangroves host a wide array of aquatic birds where many nest in May and June.

Among the birds most seen are painted storks, herons, egrets, Indian darters and little cormorants. Black – necked stork, one of rarest birds of Sri Lanka could also be seen at the park.

A few kilometers inland from Okanda lay the Kudumbigala forest hermitage. About 15 km inland from Arugam Bay, (on Siyambalanduwa – Pottuvil road) the main road passes through the scenic Lahugala Park drives a population of about 150 elephants during July and August.

Just east of Lahugala lies a cluster of ruins of the ancient Buddhist temple called Magul Maha Vihara built by King Dhatusena.