Arugam bay

Last updated on 18 May 2023Show location

Arugam Bay, also known as "Arugam Kudah," is a historic settlement located on Sri Lanka's southeast coast on the Indian Ocean. The area belongs to the ancient Batticaloa Territory (Mattakallappu Desam) and is in the dry zone. The bay is approximately 117 kilometers south of Batticaloa, 320 kilometers (200 mi) east of Colombo, and around 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) South of Pottuvil, a market town.

The main settlement in the area, known as Ullae, has a predominantly Muslim population. However, significant Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala populations are located south of the village and international expatriates, mainly from Europe and Australia. While fishing has traditionally dominated the local economy, tourism has grown rapidly in recent years.

Arugam Kudah's Tamil translation is "Bay of Cynodon dactylon". The area is famous for surf tourism due to several quality breaks in the bay. However, tourists are also drawn to the local beaches, lagoons, historic temples, and the nearby Kumana National Park. Arugam Bay is the most famous surf spot in Sri Lanka and is the only international surf competition venue in the country. It is also rated as one of the top ten surf destinations in the world and has hosted most of the international surfing competitions in Sri Lanka since 2004. In 2019, it hosted the So Sri Lanka Pro.