Kalpitiya Beach

Kalpitiya is often cited as the future of tourism in Sri Lanka since it has a number islands in its lagoon that seem ripe for development. A tourist zone has been established there and plans are on the drawing boards for five-star hotels and property development. Kalpitiya is in the north east of Sri Lanka, 35km north of Puttalam and about three hours drive from the airport.

The hotels that have been developed offer a welcome atmosphere of tranquil seclusion; they are new, informal in character and professionally run with diversions such as visiting the Wilpattu Nature Reserve by boat, whale and dolphin watching and even kite surfing. The area is fringed with mangroves, rich in birdlife and one of the few places in Sri Lanka to see the dugong.