Best things to do in Eastern Province

Eastern Province Unmissables

Sri Lanka's Eastern Province is defined by its diverse coastal and inland geography. The region features the shallow, calm bays of Passikudah and the world-renowned surf breaks of Arugam Bay. Historical sites include the 17th-century Fort Frederick in Trincomalee and the colonial-era iron bridge in Batticaloa. Further inland, the Senanayaka Samudraya stands as the country’s largest reservoir, while the southern reaches provide access to the bird sanctuaries of Kumana.

Gayathri Manohar / CC-BY-SA

Passikudah Beach

A coastal resort area known for its exceptionally shallow inner bay, allowing visitors to walk hundreds of meters into the sea over a flat, sandy bed.

Elena Nella / CC-BY-SA

Nilaveli Beach

A stretch of white sand beach located north of Trincomalee, serving as the primary launch point for boat trips to the nearby Pigeon Island National Park.

Arugam Bay

A globally recognized surfing destination characterized by its long right-hand point break and a collection of smaller breaks suitable for various skill levels.

AntanO / CC BY-SA 4.0

Fort Frederick

Fort Fredrick, also known as Trincomalee Fort or Fort of Triquillimale, is a fort built by the Portuguese at Trincomalee, Eastern Province,…

Fort Frederick

A 17th-century fortification originally established by the Portuguese and later expanded by the Dutch and British to guard the strategic Trincomalee harbor.

Thikshan Arulampalam / CC-BY-SA

Kallady Bridge

Originally known as the Lady Manning Bridge, this historic iron structure in Batticaloa was once the longest bridge in Sri Lanka.

Sérgio Valle Duarte / CC BY-SA 4.0

Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to…

Foul Point

The site of a historic 19th-century lighthouse built by the British to guide maritime traffic toward the entrance of the Trincomalee natural harbor.

Lover's Leap

A dramatic cliff face located at the edge of Swami Rock within Fort Frederick, offering views of the sea near the Koneswaram Temple.

Senanayaka Samudraya Spilling Point

The spillway for Sri Lanka’s largest reservoir, where excess water is released during the rainy season into the Gal Oya river system.

D.S Senanayaka Samudraya

The largest man-made reservoir in Sri Lanka, created in the 1950s as part of a major multipurpose irrigation and hydroelectric project in the Gal Oya valley.

Birds Information Center

An educational facility located near the entrance of Kumana National Park, providing data on the diverse migratory and resident bird species found in the wetlands.