About Hambantota

The Hambantota Harbour being a natural harbor and in fact providing the roots of the name Hambantota, formerly known as ‘Sampantota’, is certainly one of the greatest attractions in Hambantota. It was at the Hambantota Harbour that merchants from Siam, China and Indonesia anchored their vessels on their trade route to the west.

The Bundala National Park located near the coast of Hambantota, towards the south of the Weerawila Weva, is an amazing wildlife sanctuary filled with large crocodiles and migrant birds. The Yala and Udawalawe Sanctuaries too situated in the area offer a very high degree of bio diversity and are great places to encounter wild elephants, wild boar, leopards, bears etc. Many religious places such as Tissamaharamaya, Kataragama Devalaya and Kirivehera too are situated in close proximity to Hambantota.

The Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium which hosted the Cricket World Cup 2011 is one of the must see attractions in Hambantota. Another one of the fascinating, unusual attractions in Hambantota is the traditional brass-works of Angulmaduwa where Sri Lanka’s famous brass-works ranging from bells to oil lamps all began.