Weligama
Weligama is a sandy bay town on Sri Lanka's south coast, known for its stilt fishermen and as a departure point for whale-watching trips from nearby Mirissa.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Weligama is a coastal town on Sri Lanka's south coast, in Matara District of the Southern Province, about 144 km south of Colombo. The name is said to mean "sandy village," after its sandy bay. Fishing and tourism are the main industries. Stilt fishermen stand on a single pole in chest-deep water just off the beach and fish with bamboo rods. Beeralu bobbin lace, introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century, is still made by households along the coast.
Weligama has several boutique hotels and the sea is close to them. Taprobane, a small islet just offshore with a villa built by a French count, is visible from the beach. Mirissa, along the same coast, is known for surfing, and its harbor is used for whale-watching trips, where navy boats take tourists out to see sperm whales, blue whales and dolphins. Weligama lies on the coastal rail line and the A2 highway from Colombo. The town's climate is mild, as it lies in the low-country wet zone.
Weligama in five
- Watch the stilt fishermen from the coast roadSri Lanka Tourism says fishermen wade or swim out to poles with crossbars set in the seabed, when the sea and fish are running right. Ask before you photograph, because this is working life, not a show.Sri Lanka Tourism
- Sail for whales from Mirissa, not from the bayThe whale-watching boats leave from Mirissa harbor, a short ride east. The Mirissa guide has the boat rules and how to pick an operator.Mirissa
- Check the monsoon before you book a beach weekThe Department of Census and Statistics lists the south-west monsoon as May to September, with October and November the rainiest period. Sri Lanka Tourism gives nearby Koggala's dry months as December to March.Climate (DCS)
- Choose Weligama or Mirissa as your baseWeligama has the wide bay and the stilt fishermen, and Mirissa has the harbor and the sailings. They are a short ride apart, so splitting a stay costs little if you change your mind.Mirissa travel guide
Things to do in Weligama
See all attractions in Weligama
Need to know
- Airport
- Bandaranaike (CMB); a long road journey to the south coast
- Getting there
- The coast road and the coastal line between Galle and Matara
- Getting around
- Tuk-tuks and walking along the bay
- Best base
- Weligama bay, or Mirissa for the harbor
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 nights
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Whale seasonJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Whale seasonFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
- MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Whale seasonMarchRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
- AprilRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Season endsAprilRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season ends
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°SW monsoonMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 308 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- JuneRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°SW monsoonJuneRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- JulyRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°SW monsoonJulyRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- AugustRain23 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°SW monsoonAugustRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 169 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- SeptemberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°SW monsoonSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 234 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
SW monsoon
- OctoberRain25 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rainiest periodOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 253 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainiest period
- NovemberRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Season beginsNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 314 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season begins
- DecemberRain20 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Whale seasonDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Whale season
Average daily high and low in Weligama (Galle), 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Weligama
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 88%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Weligama
02:11 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°24°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed30°23°100%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Thu29°22°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri29°22°100%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat30°23°100%Saturday: Rain. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun30°22°98%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 98%.
Updated 11:23 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 332.4 LKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Weligama
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Plan around Weligama
Whale boats and a small bay
Read the guideUnawatuna travel guideThe reef bay beside Galle
Read the guideTangalla travel guideA calm base further east
Read the guideHikkaduwa travel guideReef snorkeling and a long beach
Read the guideThe SouthThe whole beach coast in one plan
Read the guideTravel insuranceCheck cover for boat trips
Read the guideAll of Sri LankaRoutes, seasons and entry rules
Read the guideWeligama FAQ
Is Weligama worth visiting?
Yes for a wide bay and a quieter base next to Mirissa. Sri Lanka Tourism highlights the stilt fishermen. Skip it from May to September if the sea is the reason to come, since the south-west monsoon is under way.
Weligama or Mirissa: where should you stay?
Weligama for the wide bay and the stilt fishermen, Mirissa for the harbor and the boats. They are a short ride apart, so pick one and visit the other for a morning.
Can you see whales from Weligama?
Sri Lanka Tourism says sightings run from Weligama to Mirissa, within eight to ten nautical miles of Mirissa harbor, in a season it gives as November to April. Its morning session starts from Mirissa fisheries harbor.
What are the stilt fishermen of Weligama?
Sri Lanka Tourism describes fishermen who wade or swim out to a pole with a crossbar set in the seabed near the shore. It is a working method, so ask before you photograph anyone and agree any payment first.
When is the best time to visit Weligama?
December to March suits the beach, and Sri Lanka Tourism lists the south's whale and dolphin season as November to April. The south-west monsoon runs May to September, and October and November are the rainiest period.