Mirissa
Mirissa
මිරිස්ස | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mirissa Beach | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Southern Province |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 4,695[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+6 (Summer time) |
Mirissa (Sinhala: මිරිස්ස) is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara District of the Southern Province. It is approximately 240 kilometres (150 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 4 metres (13 ft) above the sea level. Mirissa's beach and night life make it a popular tourist destination. It is also a fishing port and one of the island's main whale and dolphin watching locations.
History
Mirissa is the largest fishing port on the south coast and is known for its tuna, mullet, snapper and butterfish. In 1980 the first tourist accommodation was built however it wasn't until the mid-1990s that tourism to the town started to dramatically increase.[2]
Mirissa was affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with numerous homes, guesthouses, shops, schools and temples destroyed or damaged and fourteen reported deaths.[2]
Transport
Mirissa is located on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line (connecting Colombo through to Matara), and the A2 highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya.
Facilities
- Mirissa Boat Harbour
- Mirissa railway station
Attractions
- Mirissa beach
- Whale Watching
- Sri Sunandarama Temple
Post and telephone
- Sri Lanka 00 94
- Area code 041
- Postal code 81740
See also
References
- ^ Brinkhoff, Thomas (13 October 2012). "Ella (Divisional Secretariat)". City Population. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- ^ a b Laurance, Chris (10 February 2005). "Rebuilding Mirissa after the Deluge". The Independent. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
