Beruwala, in the south western costal belt of Sri Lanka is a relaxed beach resort which attracts independent travelers and families alike. The name Beruwala is derived from the Sinhalese word Beruwala (the place where the sail is lowered). It marks the spot for the first Moorish settlement on the island, established by Arab traders around the 8th century CE. A large population of Sri Lankan Moors, many of them gem merchants, still live in this area, particularly in the "China Fort". The oldest mosque in Sri Lanka is Msjidul Abrar, built by Arabs in early years.

Al- Fasiyatul Nasriya Muslim Malika Maha Vidyalaya is the first and oldest girls school in Sri Lanka. The school was damaged by the tsunami on boxing day in 2005.

Beruwala is the starting point of a 130 km long stretch of beach. In the past few years great strides have been made in the field of resort development in this area. The bay is ideal for bathing almost the whole year round.

You can hire a boat to the lighthouse raised on a small island off-shore which offers an excellent view over the coast line. Just off the coast are coral gardens, making this the perfect spot for divers and snorkelers to view spectacular marine life. Beruwala harbour is an interesting place to watch the fishermen unload their catch. The harbour has over 400 boats, many of them quite sizeable and able to handle fishing trips of up to two month at sea.