Stories Behind the Names of Places in Sri Lanka: Kokgala (Koggala) – By Nimal Sedera
Located about 139 km south of Colombo in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, this coastal town, Koggala is famed for its ecological lagoon, stilt fishermen, and connection to the renowned Sri Lankan author Martin Wickramasinghe.
Tourist Attractions
This famous island in Koggala Lagoon inspired the celebrated novel Madol Doova by celebrated author Martin Wickramasinghe.
Image Source: Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – July 2026
Koggala Lagoon: Visitors can enjoy boat rides along the lagoon and its waterways, admiring the natural beauty of the surrounding environment and the small islands scattered throughout the lagoon.
Koggala Beach: A tranquil and scenic beach, Koggala Beach is particularly well known for surfing and other beach activities.
Koggala Air Force Golf Course: The land that once served as Koggala Airport has been transformed
into a luxurious golf course.
Koggala is the birthplace of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest literary figures. His ancestral home and the Martin Wickramasinghe Folk Museum attract large numbers of both local and international visitors. Koggala is a unique destination where natural beauty, literary heritage, and cultural significance come together, making it one of the most charming places to visit in southern Sri Lanka.
How Kokgala got its name is a beautiful, simple story.
Koggala can easily be split into two words Kok and gala(න ාක් & ගල ). “koka” (න ා ා) is the Sinhala word for the bird crane. Cranes are even to date so common in the “Kokgala” lagoon. So, cranes use to rest on a huge rock in the centre of the lagoon. TheSinhala word rock is “ගල”. For this reason, people referred to the place as” Kokagala” (න ා ාගල). Over time, it evolved as “Kokgala”, eventually becoming Koggala, a landmark destination in Southern Sri Lanka.
Nimal Sedera
Dr. Nimal Sedera is a journalist, poet, motivational speaker and
an author of over 70 books.
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