About Weligama

> (Sinhalese: වැලිගම, Tamil: வெலிகாமம்) is a town on the south coast of Sri Lanka,

> located in Matara District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka,

> governed by an Urban Council. and Pradeshiya Sabha

> The name Weligama, literally means "sandy village" which refers to the area's sandy sweep bay.

> It is approximately 144 kilometres (89 mi) south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 9 metres (30 ft)

Tourism

1. Weligama Beach

2. Surfing in weligama beach

(Article about Surfing from Sunday Observer News Paper)

I am not a good surfer. But I think that if I spent a few months in the curving bay at Weligama, surfing every day, I could be a great one.If the island of Sri Lanka is a teardrop, Weligama sits at its very base. The town’s wide, sandy bay tames the big swells coming up from the Indian Ocean, creating a gentle, consistent surf break.

It’s a perfect place for a rookie like me to really learn to surf.

Weligama is a 3-and-a-half hour ride away from Colombo by the 6:55 a.m. train. And then the beach is just steps away from its tiny train station.

Walking the main road down to the bay, you’ll pass vendors and hotels selling roti, rice, and curry. Busses whizz through on their way between Galle and Matara, honking their horns to clear the roads of pedestrians.

But things calm down at the beach. The bay here has supported Weligama as a fishing village for years; even today, as a giant new Marriott hotel dominates the beachfront, you’re likely to see handcrafted fishing boats crashing through the whitewater on their way back to the beach alongside the surfers.

Ive been back to Weligama a couple of times now to surf with Batu, a young local guy who has dedicated his life to the beach.

His father is a fisherman, and so are many of his friends. He told me that he fished as his first job, but didn’t really like the work. He decided to be a surf instructor instead.

Batu now teaches at Freedom Surf School. It’s just a tent, some beach chairs, and an assortment of foam and long boards

Day-to-day, Freedom is run by Batu’s friend, another Weligama local, but all the back-end business aspects are managed by his girlfriend, who is English. She splits her time between Sri Lanka and the UK.

Batu said this situation is far from unusual.

“If there are 20 surf schools on this beach, then there are 20 foreign women running them,” he told me, laughing.

My first experience surfing in Weligama was pretty disastrous. I rented a board from Batu on a whim, just before sunset, and cockily took off into the water. I caught a few breaking waves, and wobbily rode them into shore.

So I paddled out a bit further, to where the waves were really breaking, green walls of water curling into white foam.

I tried to catch one, and immediately got tossed: I swallowed saltwater, and cut my toe open on the board’s fin. I tried to ride a few more before the sun went down, but I’d lost my mojo.

Back on the beach, a disappointed Batu made me promise to take a lesson from him next time I was in town. He gave me a drink and sent me on my way.

So a couple weeks later, I repeated the process: I caught the morning train from Colombo, ate some rice and curry in town, and then headed down to the beach.

Batu was there waiting for me. He rubbed some more wax on a longboard, to help with grip, and then made me practice my technique down on the sand. I went through my pop-up over and over again: paddling hard, putting my hands down on the board, pushing up, and placing back foot horizontal, my front foot angled 45-degrees, and leaning forward.

When I had a good rhythm going, we set off into the water. For the first few waves, Batu pushed my board into the whitewater, like I was a child learning to swim.

But it helped. I stood strong, and rode each wave into shore easily.

So we moved to verbal commands. I paddled out to the break, and he’d yell at me.

“Paddle!”

I paddled.

“Stand up!”

I stood.

“Ride it!”

I fell.

I’d swim back out, and Batu would give me more commands.

“Your back foot was too far forward,” he said. Or, “push more weight into your front.”

After a while I started to get it. I was catching bigger waves, and standing more consistently.

Then on one wave, not huge, but big enough, something clicked. I paddled hard, and felt the wave catch and pull in my board like it had hands. The board felt stable, and I popped up smoothly.

Nature lined up for me: the suction of the wave, the small breeze, the balance, it all worked out. I rode the wave all the way to shore, the water rushing under me like a carpet.

I saw a thumbs-up from Batu out in the break.

The next day I surfed again, with less success. My body was sore, and a bit sunburned, and Batu made me sprint up and down the beach to warm up. I don’t know if he does this for everybody, or if he just wanted to see me suffer.

I caught some waves, but also fell a lot.I didn’t get that same thrilling ride from the day before, but I could feel that I was surfing differently than I had before Weligama: my pop-up was cleaner, my looks and timing were better, my stance was stronger.

Batu was satisfied enough with my progress. After a while we headed in, and then walked down the beach for some fresh fish from a stand his father sometimes sells.

We ate the fish grilled, with chips, and put back a couple Lion beers. Out in the waves, people surfed, and a fishing boat came crashing into shore.

Afterwards, I walked back to the train station, my wet swimsuit soaking my backpack and sand falling out of all of my clothes. It was an itchy ride back to Colombo.

This month, Batu is opening his own surf school in Weligama: the “Batu Surf School.” Next time I go back, he won’t be just a surf teacher, but a businessowner.

And next time I go back to Weligama, maybe I won’t be such a flounder, but a better surfer.

3. Mirissa beach

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.

Ancient Places

1. Kushtarajagala

Kushtaraja Gala at Weligama – කුෂ්ටරාජගල

Kushtaraja Gala statue at Weligama can be found on the old main road, which goes through the Weligama town and is about 12 Km away from the Matara town. To reach the site coming form Galle you should take the old road before you reach Ahangama across the railway track. This is turnoff is located adjoining the Weligala Bay Rest House. You will see the sculpture on your right just before the second railway crossing. This statue is part of the Kushtarajagala Viharaya.

This more than life size relief carved in solid rock is thought to be one of the best statues in the Mahayanist Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The origination of this sculpture is not known but many theories and folklore exists on the creation of the statue. It is also believed that this statue belongs to the period of 7-9th centuries.

Once a foreign king suffering from a severe skin disease (‘kushta” in Singhalese ) has landed in the Weligama bay and was treated by a local doctor. This king was restored to his original strength and to remember him (the “kushta raja” or the “Kushta King” a image of him was carved and this was known to be “Kushta Raja Gala” or Rock of the Kushta King. It is argued that if the story is true then, the King should have carved the statue of the doctor as a respect to him and not vice versa

Another version of the same story talks about hoe the sick king made offering to a certain god when he was sick and once he was cured made a statue of this god he worshipped as a gift.

There could be some truth in the above stories as Weligama was highly prosperous city in the ancient times and a center of foreign trade as Weligama was used as a harbor by foreign trading ships.

But experts believe this statue is probably a Bodhisattva Figure (a person who is destined to become a Buddha in a future life) or of a god. The most common belief is that this represent the the “Awalokitha” or the “Avaloktheeshvara” Bodhisattva of the Mahayana Buddhism. This is due to the presence of four meditating Buddha figures on his head dress and the lotus in the hand. “Avaloktheeshvara” Bodhisattva is one of the most powerful bodhisattvas of the Mahayana Buddhism. He is thought to be the most powerful healers of the mankind. It is interesting to note that even the folklore about this statue relates to a healing of a king.

A similar relief can be found in the “Buduruwagala” in the Wellawaya area. Some also believe that this is a relief of the god “Natha” who is a god worshipped by the Sri Lankans. It is also believed that the “Avaloktheeshvara” Bodhisattva appeared in many forms in Sri Lanka and god “Natha” was one form. If this is true then the “Avaloktheeshvara” Bodhisattva and the god Natha would be the same.

Irrespective of any belief this statue is the only remaining preserved statue in the wet zone and still people come to worship this statue to request relief from diseases.

2. Agrabodhi Temple

Weligama Agrabodhi Rajamaha Viharaya – වැලිගම අග්‍රබෝධි රජමහා විහාරය

The Agrabodhi Rajamaha Viharaya at Weligama is an ancient temple which dates back to times of King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BC). According the Bodhivamsa, the chronicle of the Holy Bodhi Tree, the very first of the Bodhi saplings out of the first thirty two saplings from the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi was planted at this temple grounds during the time of King Devanampiyatissa.

Chronicle further mentions that Patarajakulavardhana Devadhikari, the Commander-in-Chief of Queen Kalyanavati in the Polonnaruva period has built a Pirivena in this vihara. There is evidence to say that an image house was built by King Parakramabahu IV (1302-1326 A.D.) and King Bhuvanekabahu IV (1341-1351 A.D.) and his Commander-in-Chief, named Senalankadhikari have made offerings to this vihara.

According to folklore, when the few of the very first Bodhi Saplings were being carried to southern region, the group rested one night on this ground and in the morning when the group tried to resume their journey, they found out that the very first Bodhi of the samplings has taken root at the site. Therefore it has been decided to leave the Bodhi tree on the same site. Thus since the first and the main sampling of Sri Maha Bodhi was planted here, it has been called Agrabodhi Viharaya.

Another folklore states that the temple was built by King Aggrabodhi IV (667-683) thus the the temple was named after him.

This temple is also mentioned in Sandesha poems like Thisara Sandeshaya, Kokila Sandeshaya and Parevi Sandeshaya.

Weligama Agrabodhi Rajamaha Viharaya’s antiquity is also demonstrated by the finding of a ‘Ashtamangala Shilawa’ or the “Ata Magala” stone (Eight fold prosperity stone) which was used as the foundation stone of temples belonging to the Anuradhapura Era. This is about 6 inches on sides and 1 inch thick. This stone is considered the most complete Ata Magala (Ashtamangala / Astamangala) ever to be found where the eight carvings can be clearly identified.

The Buddha Image house and the paintings inside belongs to the Kandyan Era.

The Kushtaraja Gala rock carving close by too has been part of this temple at one time but now separated and is managed by the Department of Archaeology.

This temple was destroyed by the Portuguese during the time when the coastal area was under their control but rebuilt again with the sponsorship of King Rajadhi Rajasinhe ( 1781 – 1798) of the Kandyan Kingdom.

3. Nugaruka Denipitiya

Schools in Weligama

1. Arafa National School

http://www.arafa.sch.lk/

ABOUT US...

Name of School	:Arafa Central College (National School)
Registered No.	:07283
Exam No.	:22017
Address	:Weligama
Telephone	:(0094) 41 2251767 (Senior Section)
	:(0094) 41 4902500 (Junior Section)
E-Mail	:arafacollege@gmail.com
Province	:Southern
Zone	:Matara
Electorate	:Weligama
Gramasevaka Division	:Galbokka West/New Street
Established In	:1888
School Colour	:Meroon
School Type & Status	:1AB, National
Class Conducting	:01-13 Arts, Commerce & Science
School Hours	:07.30am-01.55pm
Medium Of Insrtuction	:Tamil & English
Name of the Principal	:J.S.W.A.Mowlana
No.of Students	:1371
No.of Teachers	:52
No.of Non Academic Staff	:04
No.of Minor Employees	:15
Houses & Colours	:Rose House - Red
	:Lotus House - Blue
	:Jasmine House - Green
Accounts	:
Teachers' Salary	Bank - People's Bank
	Branch - Weligama
	Account Number - 1-61-000-7605
Facilities Fees	Bank - People's Bank
	Branch - Weligama
	Account No - 1-61-001-2189
Quality Input	Bank - People's Bank
	Branch - Weligama
	Account No - 1-61-000-334-0
School Development Society	Bank - Bank of Ceylon
	Branch - Weligama
	Account No - 000 4440347
Computer Unit	Bank - People's Bank
	Branch - Weligama
	Account No - 0771001573340634

2. Siddhartha Boys College

https://www.siddharthacollege.org/

“විද්‍යා දදාති විනයං ….“

වර්ෂ 1890 දකුණු ලක වැලගම් පුරවරයේ දුවා දරුවන්ගේ සිප් නැණ පහන් දල්වනු පිණිස බෞද්ධ විද්‍යාලයක් වශයෙන් ආරම්භ කෙරුණු වැලිගම සිද්ධාර්ථ විද්‍යාලය මේ වන විට දෙස් විදෙස් සුවහසක් විද්වතුන් රැසක් බිහිකර ඇත.

වර්තමානයේ 1AB සුපිරි පාසල් ගණයට අයත් අප පාසල ප්‍රදේශයේ පිරිමි දරුවන් දහසකට ආසන්නව දැනුමින් පෝෂණය කෙරේ…

දකුණු ආසියාවේ තනි මහලක් සහිත දිගම ගොඩනැගිල්ල හිමි අප පාසල සිසු දරුවන්ගේ ඉගෙනුම් ඉගැන්වීම් ක්‍රියාවලියට හිතකර භෞතික හා මානව සම්පත් රැසකගෙන් සමන් විත වේ..

6 ශ්‍රේණියේ සිට 11 ශ්‍රේණිය දක්වා සමාන්තර පන්ති 06 බැගින් ද, උසස්පෙළ කලා, වාණිජ, විද්‍යා ගණිත සහ තාක්ෂණික විෂය ධාරාවන් යටතේ සිසු දරුවෝ ඉගෙනුම ලබති.

3. Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya
http://www.sumangalabalika.sch.lk/

A land mark occasion in the school history

Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya has earned its reputation as one of the best renowned school in the region by now with its firm roots in 1927 as an irregular settlement. From time to time it has undergone a series of slight amendments with regard to its name as 'Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya' and 'Sri Sumangala Central College', finally establishing its very name to be 'Sri Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya' in the long-term manifestation of its glory remarkably producing a vast number of erudite personnel.

A series of programmes as follows has been designed to coincide with the land mark occasion of the school's 90thanniversary in 2017 with the initiative of the principal, Mrs. K. W. I. Manel.

Publication of a souvenir magazine
Holding alms preceded by a Pirith Ceremony
A blood donation campaign for the social well-being
A ceremonial occasion to hold the teachers now in their retirement in esteem and as a token of tribute to them
Restoration work of the shrine
Launching a video on the school preserving its indelible and precious memories
Launching Scholarship Programmes

The implementation of the scheduled ventures would be a winning combination of the dedicated academic and non-academic staffs along with the enthusiasts to prove their concerted efforts.

The school has gone down in the history stepping up on the top rung of the ladder of success with 11 students achieving their high academic standards to obtain 3 A's in the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination.

The incentives of the alumni in every nook and cranny reinforce the reputation of Sumangala Balika Vidyalaya gratifying our wishes on behalf of the alma mater.

We firmly believe that the Alumni Association would further go hand-in-hand with us, the school community being a pillar of strength when and where necessary to illuminate its path way to the uppermost success.