In 1940, the Hikkaduwa Rocky Islets were declared sanctuaries and was limited to the land boundaries of these rocky islets. In 1998 it was upgraded to the status of a nature reserve and later to a national park. The famed Coral Gardens and Telwatte Bird Sanctuary are the main attractions of Hikkaduwe which lies 98km from Colombo. Today it is known as the tourist “capital” of Sri Lanka, with many beach parties, reggae music, hot and fiery lobster or prawn on offer along with glass bottomed boat rides to the reef to enjoy the marine life or for the enthusiast a pair of flippers and goggles, surfing and canoeing in the nearby lake are few of the other things on offer here.