Matara Sightseeing, Forts to Lighthouse

October 31, 2026

Sightseeing in Matara is a mix of colonial-era buildings in the town and temples and a lighthouse a little further out. The town centre is compact and busy, and none of the sights needs more than a couple of hours, so a full day covers them all with a tuk-tuk. Prices are in Sri Lankan rupees (LKR), and cash is useful. Check current travel advice before you go, and note that the sea is dangerous in the south-west monsoon.

Matara Fort

Matara Fort is not a standalone ramparts walk. Much of it is a working government compound, with the District Secretariat, Divisional Secretariat, courts and offices, and the public can walk in. Portuguese works came first, with sources giving 1560 or 1595. The Dutch captured the fort in 1640 and rebuilt it in the 1640s. Two landmarks are easy to find. The British clock tower dates from 1883 and stands about 12 m high. The Dutch Reformed church is dated 1706, with reconstruction marked 1767. There is no lighthouse inside the fort, and it should not be confused with Fort Frederick, which is in Trincomalee. See the Matara Fort page on Wikipedia for the timeline.

Star Fort

About 350 m from the main fort gate, the Star Fort was built by the Dutch East India Company from 1763 to 1765 to guard the main fort from attack by river and from the land side. The gate inscription reads “Redoute Van Eck 1763”. The Department of Archaeology now runs it as the Matara Archaeological Museum. Hours are about 09:00 to 17:00 daily, except Poya days and public holidays. A small entry charge applies, and the signs say what you may photograph.

Paravi Duwa

This small island temple sits just off the seafront and is reached by a footbridge. Visit in modest dress and remove your shoes at the shrine. Free and open daily, but check on arrival. The island is eroding, and the bridge has been rebuilt since it collapsed in 2022.

Weherahena Temple

Seven kilometres from the centre, Weherahena has a seated Buddha 88 cubits (about 39 m) high. The foundation was laid in 1939 and the statue was completed in 1976. A tunnel of about 183 m beneath it is painted with Jataka scenes, some of them showing hell realms in graphic detail. There is a small charge or donation, and it is open from early morning to late evening, so go in daylight. The Amazing Lanka page on Weherahena gives the dimensions.

Dondra Head Lighthouse

At 49 m, the octagonal tower at Dondra Head is the tallest lighthouse in Sri Lanka, though not the oldest. Sir James Douglass designed it, and it was completed around 1890 after work began in 1887. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority runs it. Going up needs prior permission and is not reliably granted, so the headland and the nearby shrine area are the dependable visit. Wikipedia has a page on Dondra Head Lighthouse .

Wevurukannala Vihara

At Dickwella, about 20 to 25 km east of Matara, this temple is famous for a seated Buddha reported at about 160 feet and a tableau of hell punishments. It is a separate temple from Weherahena, so do not mix up the two when you brief a driver.

If you would like a guide, browse Viator tours in Matara .