Arugam Bay is a bay located on the Indian Ocean in the dry area of the southwest coast of Sri Lanka and a historic settlement of the ancient Batticaloa territory. The bay is 117 kilometers (73 miles) north of Batticaloa, 320 kilometers (200 miles) north of Colombo, and about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of Pottuvil’s market town. The primary settlement in the region, locally known as Ullae, is predominantly Muslim, but to the south of the village there is a substantial population of Sri Lankan Tamil and Sinhala, as well as a number of global migrants, mostly from Europe and Australia. While fishing has traditionally dominated the local economy, in latest years tourism has risen quickly in the region. The literal Tamil translation of Arugam Kudah is “Dactylon Bay of Cynodon.” Owing to several quality breaks in the region, tourism in Arugam Bay is dominated by surf tourism, but the local beaches, lagoons, historic temples and neighboring Kumana National Park also attract visitors.