Uppuveli

Uppuveli is the first beach you reach heading north from Trincomalee — closer to town than Nilaveli, more convenient, and with a strip of guesthouses and beach restaurants that makes it a natural base for exploring the broader Trincomalee area. The beach is beautiful — a long, wide stretch of white sand with the same calm east coast sea that makes this region so special — and the community of fishing villages behind it gives the place a genuinely local character. Uppuveli is slightly busier than Nilaveli, but still tranquil by south coast standards, and its proximity to Trincomalee town makes it easier to combine beach time with cultural sightseeing.

Trincomalee War Cemetery

One of Uppuveli's most significant landmarks is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery on the beach road — the final resting place of 361 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Ceylon during the Second World War. Trincomalee was a critical Allied naval base and suffered Japanese air raids in April 1942 (the same week as the attack on Colombo). The cemetery is beautifully maintained, its white headstones arranged under shade trees near the sea, and is open to visitors throughout the day. It is a moving and often overlooked piece of Second World War history.

The Beach

Uppuveli beach runs for about 3km, with the main accommodation strip concentrated in the middle section. The sand is wide, clean and golden-white. The sea is calm from May through September — perfect for swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Several guesthouses have sun loungers on the beach available to guests. Boat trips to Pigeon Island for snorkelling can be arranged from Uppuveli — a 20-minute journey — and are slightly cheaper than from Nilaveli.

Food & Seafood

Uppuveli is known for excellent fresh seafood. The guesthouses along the beach strip serve grilled fish, crab curry, prawn kottu and fresh-caught barracuda — the quality of seafood in Trincomalee is among the best in Sri Lanka. The local Muslim fishing community ensures a constant supply of the freshest catch. Rice and curry from the small town eateries just behind the beach costs LKR 200–400 and is consistently excellent.

Getting to Uppuveli

From Trincomalee town, take a tuk-tuk north on the Nilaveli road — Uppuveli is 6km and costs about LKR 200–300. The bus from Trincomalee bus station to Nilaveli also stops at Uppuveli. By train or bus from Colombo, arrive at Trincomalee and take a tuk-tuk north. The railway station in Trincomalee is about 7–8 hours from Colombo Fort via Habarana. Driving from Colombo takes 6–7 hours.

Best Time to Visit

May through September is peak season for the east coast. July and August bring the most visitors — Sri Lankan families from Colombo and Kandy often holiday here in August. For fewer crowds, May, June and September are excellent months with good weather but far fewer tourists. October signals the arrival of the northeast monsoon and the beach season winds down.

Tips for Visitors

• Stay at one of the beach-strip guesthouses rather than in Trincomalee town — the beach is much more pleasant and tuk-tuks make town visits easy
• Visit the CWGC cemetery in the early morning when the light is soft and the grounds are quiet
• Negotiate tuk-tuk prices to Pigeon Island boat launch in advance
• Trincomalee town is worth a half-day: the Koneswaram temple cliff and the natural harbour viewpoints are spectacular