As tourists and travellers go back and forth between their Yala hotels and the wild park, Kirinda is missed and ignored, probably due to its mundane outward appearance. However, if you are to embark on to the village, which is a mere 20 minutes away from Cinnamon Wild Yala, you will be exposed to an aspect of local life that is difficult to come by. Life goes on as usual here, with minimal interference from visitors. The village itself is something to behold, holding onto the traditional modes of housing and layout. Many of the houses are ones that has been passed down for generations, some retaining their originality while others adding bits and pieces of contemporary architecture to an existing structure. The villagers are friendly and welcoming, and you will feel at home among the smiling faces. If you walk towards the shore, you will encounter resting fishing vessels or active fishermen depending on the time of the day. A clear day will give you magnificent views of the lighthouse that perches on Great Basses Reef. It is akin to a needle than a gigantic structure of navigation, from the vantage point of the Kirinda fishing village.
Kirinda is historically known for its role in the Sri Lankan royal lineage. It is to Kirinda, according to history that Princess Viharamahadevi disembarked after being sent off as a sacrifice to halt the tsunami that wrath of Gods had incurred. She is perhaps best known as the mother of King Dutugemunu, the first King of Sri Lanka to unite the country under one rule. Thus, there is a statue of Viharamahadevi towards the edge of the village border, which is frequented by local visitors for whom this history is nothing new. Therefore it is quite common to see locals frequenting the village of Kirinda while many tourists pass it by unknown.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
