Negombo Fish Market

Negombo's fish market is one of the most vivid and lively spectacles in Sri Lanka. Set on the banks of the Dutch Canal, the market comes alive in the early morning hours as fishing boats return from overnight trips laden with fresh catch from the Indian Ocean.

Tuna, prawns, cuttlefish, lobster and a dazzling variety of local species are unloaded and sold in a flurry of activity — a photographer's paradise and a genuine window into the lives of Negombo's fishing community, whose livelihoods have centred on these waters for centuries.

The market is best experienced at dawn when the boats first arrive, but activity continues through the morning. The surrounding area also features several excellent seafood restaurants where the day's catch is served minutes from the water.