Insiders’ guide to Sri Lanka’s Southern Province
Galle Fort and the southern beaches are on the itinerary for many visitors, but the surrounding area also has much to offer
To help discover the region, we spoke to three insiders: Don Ranasinghe, co-owner of Smoke & Bitters, a bar and smokehouse in Hiriketiya ranked No 14 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list; Naveen Devinda, who runs Donga, a travel company focusing on sustainable tours; and Edwina Viel, who visits Sri Lanka almost every month to manage her beachfront accommodation, Villa Weli Kasba.
Rainforests, tea gardens and a rock temple
“I always tell people to grab a scooter,” says Ranasinghe. “Go inland and you’re going to come across the most beautiful village scenery with paddy fields and natural water springs.”
Devinda recommends Lankagama, a village that lies on the fringes of Sri Lanka’s last primary rainforest, Sinharaja. While there are several entrances to Sinharaja, he explains, the trails in Lankagama meander through seven waterfalls that most travellers haven’t heard of. “It is probably the only place in the south where you can see many waterfalls within such a small area.
Both Viel and Devinda recommend hailing a tuk-tuk and heading inland from Tangalle to caves such as those at the Mulkirigala temple complex, built in the third century over a 205-metre high natural rock formation, with its reclining Buddhas and ceiling paintings that depict Buddha’s life. The views aren’t bad, either.