It is where the country’s oldest mosque is located and the starting point for the 130+ km of beach that stretches down south from there on. Beruwala is known for its bay and harbour from where the area began and then grew as more Muslim merchants settled in over the years. The town has perennially been known for as a trade hub and is unique because of its high density of Muslim merchants. It was once a hotspot for buying gems brought down from Ratnapura. The Islam driven culture of the town dates back to 8AD and it is a rich treat for the culture vulture.