Hikkaduwa 

Hikkaduwa is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in Sri Lanka. It is world famous for its coral reefs and wide beach. Hikkaduwa which was a quiet seaside fishing town three decades ago is now a hive of activity. Hundreds of seaside resorts and hotels dot the beach. Sri Lanka is lucky to have miles of coral reef which are away from the beach in the sea. The pounding waves break on the coral reefs and they prevent erosion of the coast. The coral reefs are fascinating. They are made of skeletons of millions of tiny coral polyps. They take hundreds of years to grow but unfortunately they are easily destroyed by careless- shore dwellers, fishermen and tourists. thousands of different creatures live in the reefs. Tourists from all over the world come to swim around the reefs, under the water and to see the many coloured corals with their brightly coloured patterns. This is one of the biggest tourist attractions. Fibre glass boats take people to and around the coral reefs. Hundreds of Hikkaduwa has also got its own handicraft villages where craftsmen and women turn out beautiful works of art using coconut leaves, husks and shells. They are famous for their ornaments, hats, fans, mats, vases and wall hangings. The tourists are fascinated by them. Beeralu lace making is also one of their crafts. Hikkaduwa is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. It brings in a lot of foreign currency.