Where We Are

Camp Coconut is situated on the south coast of Sri Lanka in a village by the easily pronouncable name of Kamburugamuwa, 3 miles from the centre of Matara, Sri Lanka’s third largest connurbation.

The land itself comprises an old house and 3 acres and is walking distance from both the main Galle Road (the main road running down the coast between Colombo and Matara) and Kamburugamuwa railway station (the mainline between Colombo and Matara).It is located no more than ½ mile away from the coast and well situated for serving the stricken communities whose houses and livelihoods were severly damaged, if not destroyed, by the Tsunami.

The address/tel no is:

Camp Coconut ‘Somagiri’. Kotawila Road. Kamburugamuwa. Matara. Sri Lanka. Tel 041-2230349

Galle is a 40 min. drive by car. Welligama – 20 mins and Matara – 5 mins.

If you are approaching Matara on the Galle Road from the direction of Galle / Colombo, you need to look out for the 154km distance marker (this is 154km from Colombo). The next major turning left after this marker will be a road called Kotawila Road (there is a tuk-tuk stand on the corner at this junction). Take this turn, go past the water tower on the right, then a school, then traverse the railway crossing and after a further 3-400m, the road will bend to the left and on your right you will see a large old house surrounded by a cement wall.

You have arrived at Camp Coconut. The locals may know the house as ‘Somagiri’.

Kamburugamuwa is on the main line between Colombo and Matara BUT not all trains go all the way through from Galle. If you are travelling from Colombo, please check whether the train you are planning to travel on is a through train to Matara (in which case, it will stop at Kamburugamuwa) or whether it ceases its journey at Galle (in which case, you will need to get on a connecting ‘local’ train to Matara from Galle. There are about five trains a day from Colombo and the journey time is in the region of four hours from Colombo. The fare is currently Rs 78 one way (2nd class).

From Colombo, Kamburugamuwa station is after Welligama and before Matara. The train should stop automtically.

From the station, walk out onto the Kotawila Road, turn right and Camp Coconut is no more than a 400m walk up the road. For the less energetic, you should be able to hail a three-wheeler (cost : c. 20-30 rupees).