Batticaloa Lagoon
மட்டக்களப்பு வாவி
The largest lagoon on Sri Lanka's east coast, stretching about 56 km and famous for the strange 'singing fish' sounds heard at night.
Batticaloa Lagoon stretches about 56 km north to south, dividing the town into several islands, with fishing villages, paddy fields and mangroves along its shores. Its most famous feature is the singing fish. On windless nights, especially around the full moon, placing an oar or your ear against the water near Kallady Bridge reveals a low hum like plucked strings, whose cause remains debated. By day you can take a small boat across the lagoon to watch fishermen cast their nets and birds, and sunset from the lakeshore in the evening is the best time to visit. Boatmen can be found in town or near Kallady Bridge.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- St. Mary's Cathedral, Batticaloa
- Batticaloa Fort
- Kallady Bridge
- Kallady Beach
- Batticaloa Lighthouse
- Kalkudah Beach
- Pasikudah Beach
- Kayankerni Marine Sanctuary