The Eastern Province is one of the nine provinces of Sri Lanka, the first level administrative division of the country. The capital of the province is Trincomalee. The province is surrounded by the Northern Province to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Southern Province to the south, and the Uva, Central and North Central provinces to the west. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was temporarily merged with the Northern Province to form the North Eastern Province. The province's coast is dominated by lagoons, the largest being Batticaloa Lagoon, Kokkilai lagoon, Upaar Lagoon and Ullackalie Lagoon. The province is the most diverse in Sri Lanka, both ethnically and religiously. The province benefits from a large tourism industry with many seaside resorts and hotels situated mainly in lagoons as well as beaches such as Pasikudah, Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Kalkudah. Historic sites and other natural attractions such as Pigeon Island, coral reefs contribute to the industry.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee - Trincomalee (more commonly known as ‘Trinco') is a prime eco tourism venue which is located on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka and offers some of the country's most attractive beaches such as 'Uppuveli' and 'Nilaveli'. Fine white-sand and crystal clear water provides an irresistible combination that won't fail to disappoint any visitor who loves the beach!. Snorkelling around the famous Pigeon island just off Nilaveli beach is widely recognised to be a ‘must-do' activity during a stay in Trinco.

Sri Lanka’s most beautiful dive location is off the coast of Trincomalee on the northeast coast of the country. It is a perfect, traditional, Indian Ocean diving location that features all the best things the region has to offer. It is particularly good for beginner divers with its sheltered, relaxed dive sites and fascinating macro marine life. Advanced divers will plenty to enjoy as well, with some amazing wrecks that can be reached only by experienced XR divers. Visit between April and September which is the best time to dive in Sri Lanka’s east region. The visibility is great and you may even see a wahle shark! Trincomalee features the most beautiful beaches in all of Sri Lanka. They are relatively uncrowded, very clean and are great for swimming as you can walk out hundreds of meters in most locations.

It has housed some of the finest beaches in its ambit such as Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Pigeon Island. Trincomalee is accompanied with deep water port which has been the reason for several attacks in the past. If you are lucky you can spot a Blue Whale near Swami Rock which is considered to be the greatest vantage point. If you find historical places to be quite intriguing, you can visit the temple of KandasamyKovil which is one of the five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

6 kms from Trincomalee lies Uppuveliis, a small and sweet village surrounded by beautifully lined palm trees and guest houses. The golden sand of the beach and sparse population and mellow ambience is what makes it one of the best hangouts. It was the famous Trincomalee’s Swami rock which had protected this small village from getting destroyed during Tsunami. There is something truly native about Uppuveli that makes it treat you like a true localite. Food lovers can have an unlimited supply of fresh sea food. You can find many excellent snorkelling opportunities. Apart from this sport you can also try your hands on other adventurous water sports such as Water-skiing and Wakeboarding which are even more exhilarating. If you are in need of some change from beaches you can take a stroll up to the Commonwealth War Cemetery, a place where a fitting tribute is given to the servicemen who died during Trinco.

Witness this heaven on earth 16kms northwest of Trincomalee.You will find here The pristine white sand juxtaposed against the deep blue waters making your ordinary mornings truly extraordinary! This tropical heaven will make you leave all the hectic city life cares behind and get you soaked in this quiet bliss. If you are a true traveller at heart the Nilavaeli beach is an amazing paradise. The bending palms swaying in the wind makes the beach look even more beautiful. The blue waters can definitely tempt you to plunge into the waters. If you don’t know diving then our Nilaveli diving centres have experts who can help you out with the same. You can even make a move towards the Pigeon island too which has rocks, pools and dozens of corals. A snorkelling trip to Pigeon Island is an interesting way of spending time in Trincomalee. There are local boats that will take you to this island for a fee of about USD30 (return). You can see the abundant sea life - sadly the coral is not respected much by the locals. The snorkelling should be done with great caution as some areas here are very deep, up to a thousand metres in depth. There is also dolphin and whale watching available from most of the guest houses on Uppuveli beach. Diving, Uppuveli, Nilaveli. Several dive centres in Uppuveli and Nilaveli can arrange diving tours, PADI dive courses, and they also provide water sports gear. Diving season here is around May to October (according to the weather) - same applies to snorkelling and swimming in the sea (winter months waves tend to be too strong). Great diving around Dutch Bay, underwater walls and caves. A Bus trip to Muthur will cost you LKR60 each way and take you for a 90 minute ride around the harbour. Picturesque scenery. Muthur is on the South Head of Trincomalee Harbor. Nothing much to do in the town itself. Walk to the Jetty. (During the Civil War the rebels fought for this town to deny the Sri Lankan Navy access to the Trinco Navy Dockyard). Buses every 30 mins. Kanniya hot springs. These are about 5 km west from Uppuveli, reachable by bus and tuktuk. These are the most popular hot springs of the island, a group of seven springs each with different water medicinal qualities and temperature. One uses a bucket to extract water and then pour over the needed body parts.

Play Golf at the 9-hole China Bay course

Batticaloa

Batticaloa is a major city in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, and its former capital. It is the administrative capital of the Batticaloa District. The city is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka and is a major commercial centre. It is on the east coast, 111 kilometres (69 mi) south of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island. Pasikudah is popular tourist destinations situated 35 km (22 mi) northwest with beaches and flat year-round warm-water shallow-lagoons. Batticaloa beaches are sandy and located along 4 km shoreline in the city and further extend through the neighboring places. They include Kallady beach, Pasikudah, and Kalkudah. Pasikudah is a bay protected from the ocean, with a flat and sandy bed extending 150 to 200 meters from the shore.

Batticaloa, town, eastern Sri Lanka. Lying on an island off the eastern coast, it is linked to the mainland by causeway, bridge, and ferry and by road and railway connections. Batticaloa is the trading centre for rice and coconuts from nearby plantations and for other agricultural products. Batticaloa Fort. This fort was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was the first to be captured by the Dutch in 1638. Later, the fort was used by the British from 1745. It now contains government administration offices. Kallady Bridge. This bridge was built in 1924 during British colonial rule. The bridge was named Lady Manning Bridge in honour of the wife of William Manning, the British Governor of Ceylon. It was the oldest and longest iron bridge in Sri Lanka. Batticaloa Lighthouse. This lighthouse near the estuary in Palameenmadu was built in 1913 and is 28 metres high. It's around 5 km from Batticaloa city, on Bar Road. Gandhi Park & Batticaloa Gate. The Batticaloa Gate is a monument which was used as port to connect the town called Puliyanthivu (island) with the mainland of Batticaloa. This is believed to have been the landing site of Rev William Ault, who was the first Methodist missionary to Batticaloa, in 1814. Batticaloa Gate is a part of Gandhi Park. Within the closest area, public library and fountain park can be accessible. Pasikudah beach. This is a coastal resort town located about 35 km northwest of Batticaloa town. It is a popular tourist destination, especially for its calm water body and resorts & hotels. You can go Swimming, especially at Pasikudah beach, which has calm water. Boat travel from Batticaloa lighthouse to Batticaloa Fort (about 3 km) is recommended. Bird watching could possible if you arrange a local guide. Seasonal/migrating birds visit during particular months. Kudumbimalai (literal translation "Hair-knot-rock") is a recommended place for bird watching. The traditional folk dance called “kuthu” is performed during Hindu festivals or other special events. Batticaloa shops have local souvenirs, which represent Batticaloa, with drawings of “singing fish” – a mythical image of a mermaid. Batticaloa known as “Land of Singing Fish” visitors can go crabbing in Batticaloa’s lagoon, learn to cook spicy and delicious Sri Lankan meals, glimpse crocodiles and elephants in an extensive maze of wetlands, bicycle through lush paddy fields, and attend festivals at the numerous candy-colored temples across the province. Batti and its neighboring towns are so much more than swaths of unspoiled beaches.

Ampara

Ampara is governed by an Urban Council. It is located in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, about 360 km (224 mi) east of Colombo and approximately 60 km (37 mi) south of Batticaloa.Ampara is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second-level administrative divisions of the country.While the district's coastline consists of lagoons and beaches, the inland changes rapidly, and the Ampara region is covered with rice fields and sugar cane fields. Ampara is also the largest rice harvesting province in the country. Many wild elephants are present in the region, especially in the Gal Oya National Park. This park, the archaeological ruins of the Buddhangala Hermitage, Deegawapi and the Pagoda of Peace, at the western exit of the city, are the main tourist interests of Ampara and its region.

Visit Gal Oya National Park. An important feature of the Gal Oya National Park is its elephant herd that can be seen throughout the year. Three important herbs of the Ayurveda medicine, triphala: Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellirica and Emblica officinalis are amongst the notable flora of the forest. Visit Buddhangala Hermitage. This monastic complex is located in the Buddhangala Sanctuary in the heart of a region that once belonged to the kingdom Digamadulla The Tamils and Moors call the place «Buddhankalei». Discovered in 1964, the place owes its current importance to the discoveries made in the ruins of the old temple. There has been an update of a box containing Buddha relics and two of his followers. These relics are now preserved in a dagoba built in 1974 at the top of the rocks. Each year, this dagoba is open in June for three consecutive days (Possum Full Moon Day) and thousands of pilgrims come to gather. The surrounding area also has interesting remains. Below the rocks, you can see cave dwellings of the dozen monks who occupy the site. Visit Deegawapi. Dighavapi is a Buddhist sacred shrine and an archaeological site in the Ampara District of Sri Lanka, boasting of historical records dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Water reservoirs, called "tanks", were an important feature of the hydraulic civilization of ancient Lanka, and temples and cities were built around them. The importance of Dighavapi is connected with legends about visits to this site by the Buddha himself, and many allusions to Dighavapi in the ancient chronicles as well as in the Pali literature. It has also played a role in the political history of the region. In more recent (medieval) times, the Sinhalese kings have settled Moor and Dutch settlers in the neighbouring areas.

Visit Ampara Peace Pagoda. It is one of a number of Peace Pagodas in the world, built since World War II and designed to promote the non-violence in the community and unite them in their search for world peace. It is located in Ampara, a small town located in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka and is one of the Ampara's most prominent landmarks. There are another four Peace Pagodas constructed in various places around Sri Lanka. They are located at Unawatuna, Adam's Peak, Bandarawela and Walapane

Kalmunai

The name "Kalmunai" is believed to have originated from the Tamil words "Kal" and "Munai," which respectively mean "stone" and "corner." This name refers to the geographical location of the city, as it is situated at a corner where the land meets the sea. Kalmunai's strategic position along the eastern coast of Sri Lanka has played a significant role in shaping its history and culture.

Kalmunai has a historical background that dates back centuries. The region has been influenced by various civilisations, including the ancient Tamil kingdoms, colonial powers, and the indigenous Muslim community. Over time, Kalmunai became an important trading post due to its coastal location, facilitating maritime trade routes with other countries.

During the Sri Lankan civil war, Kalmunai experienced the devastating effects of the conflict. The city faced numerous challenges, including forced disappearances, civil unrest, and violence targeted at local civilians.

Kattankudy

Places to visit in Kattankudy:

Heritage museum

New Kallady Bridge