Tourist Destinations in Sri Lanka

Hambantota city is located 241km (along A2 coastal motor way) south of Colombo in Hambantota district of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.

Reaching Hambantota

Hambantota can be reached by scenic A2 coastal motor way (241km) from Colombo as well as by A8 motor way and A18 (221km) motor way travelling through the country side.

With the opening of Southern Expressway running from Kottawa to Matara, Hambantota is reached in a much shorter period of time though the total distance is still at 242km, i.e. Colombo to Matara (152km) and Matara-Hambantota (91km along A2 coastal road).

Furthermore, the newly constructed Southern Expressway running from Kottawa to southern coastal town of Matara (126km) is proposed to be extended to Hambantota.

Though, as at present, Hambantaota cannot be reached by Railway, the matter is taking a turn now. The ongoing construction of Matara-Kataragama Railway Line running a distance of 114.5km began in April 2010 is set to connect Hambantota.

Greater Hambantota Development Project (GHDP)

Hambantota is one of five futures ‘metro cities’ in Sri Lanka located in areas strategically selected for their potential high population concentration. The forecast population for each metro city is one million and Hambantota has a forecast population of 1.2 million by 2018

Mirijjawila Botanical Garden at Hambantota

Sri Lanka’s first Dry Zone Botanical Garden is being established at the village of Mirijjawila on Colombo-Kataragama main road with six main objectives: conservation of dwindling trees and shrubs in the dry zone and arid zone; studies on lesser known and underutilized plants in the dry zone; in dry zone landscape improvement; promoting cultivation of medicinal herbal plants; imparting education and training on botany and horticulture to the younger generation; eco-tourism promotion. The irrigation of the garden is supported by the nearby Beragama irrigation reservoir. The plans have been made to construct several small tanks within the Gardens too. Spreading over an extent of 300 acres, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden also features ornamental flower cultivation, commercial flower cultivation and facilities to undertake studies on trees.

Hambantota Salt Pans

Hambantota is home to the main salt pans of Sri Lanka. The coastal line of Hambantota is dominated by shimmering expansive saltpans that stretch along bordering the main road for about 15km. Salt is produced by means of allowing the sea water into the pans called Lewayas that makes the seawater evaporates leaving only salt to be scraped up and collected. The salt pans attract a large number of waders and shore birds, including greater flamingo, spot-billed pelican, several species of plover and tern, gulls, ducks, egrets, sandpipers and many others.

Wind Farm

The Wind Energy Resource Atlas of Sri Lanka compiled by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the United Sates confers that Sri Lanka has a wind resource potential of 24,000 Mega Watts (MW). However, it was concluded that only 200 MW can be actually utilized within system operation limitations. As at present Sri Lanka make use of only 3 MW of this enormous potential, by means of Hambantota Wind Farm of the Ceylon Electricity Board that spans over 17 hectares of woodlands. The wind farm with a total installed capacity of 3 MW generates up to 4,500 MWh of power annually. The wind power station consists of five NEG Micon M1500-600 wind turbines of 600 KW each.