{{Infobox settlement |official_name = Mirissa |native_name = {{lang|si|මිරිස්ස}}<br>{{lang|ta|மிரிஸ்ஸ}} |image_skyline = Mirissa-Plage (3).jpg |image_caption = Mirissa Beach |image_flag = |image_seal = |image_map = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Sri Lanka |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Sri Lanka |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = Southern Province |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2012 |population_total = 4,695<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/srilanka-admin.php?adm2id=8136|title=Ella (Divisional Secretariat)|publisher=City Population|last=Brinkhoff|first=Thomas|date=13 October 2012|accessdate=2 July 2014}}</ref> |population_metro = |population_density_km2 = <!--Don't include commas!--> |timezone = Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone |utc_offset = +5:30 |timezone_DST = Summer time |utc_offset_DST = +6 |postal_code_type = Postcode |postal_code = 81740 |area_code = 041 |coordinates = {{coord|5|56|45|N|80|27|35|E|region:LK|display=inline,title}} |website = |footnotes = }}
'''Mirissa''' ({{langx|si|මිරිස්ස|translit=Mirissa}}; {{langx|ta|மிரிஸ்ஸ|translit=Miris'sa}}) is a small town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in the Matara District of the Southern Province. It is approximately {{convert|150|km|mi}} south of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of {{convert|4|m|ft}} above sea level. Mirissa's beach and nightlife make it a popular tourist destination. It is also a fishing port and one of the island's main whale and dolphin watching locations.
==History== Mirissa is the largest fishing port on the south coast and is known for its tuna, mullet, snapper, and butterfish. In 1980 the first tourist accommodation was built, and in the mid-1990s tourism to the town started to increase dramatically.<ref name="Laurance">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rebuilding-mirissa-after-the-deluge-1529808.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/rebuilding-mirissa-after-the-deluge-1529808.html |archive-date=2022-05-15 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Rebuilding Mirissa after the Deluge|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 February 2005|last=Laurance|first=Chris|accessdate=10 July 2014}}</ref>
Mirissa was affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, with numerous homes, guesthouses, shops, schools, and temples destroyed or damaged and fourteen reported deaths.<ref name="Laurance"/>
==Transport== Mirissa is located on the A2 Highway, connecting Colombo to Wellawaya; the town is approximately {{convert|2|km|mi|frac=4|abbr=off}} west of Mirissa railway station – on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line (connecting Colombo through to Matara) – and it is approximately {{convert|13|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=off}} from the Kokmaduwa Interchange of the Southern Expressway.
==Facilities== * Mirissa Boat Harbour * Mirissa railway station
==Attractions== * Mirissa beach<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thingstodosrilanka.com/top-5-things-to-do-in-mirissa-sri-lanka/#mir|title=A Guide to Mirissa Beach|publisher=Things to Do in Sri Lanka|last=Weragala|first=Hasintha|date=21 July 2018|accessdate=9 Aug 2018}} A guide to the Mirissa Beach</ref> and Parrot Rock * Coconut Tree Hill<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wijesinghe |first1=Dimithri |title=10 tourist hotspots you didn’t know were privately owned |url=https://www.themorning.lk/10-tourist-hotspots-you-didnt-know-were-privately-owned/ |access-date=21 May 2022 |work=The Morning |date=17 January 2021}}</ref> * Whale Watching * Sri Sunandarama Temple * Secret Beach
==See also== * List of towns in Southern Province, Sri Lanka * List of beaches in Sri Lanka
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{Commons category|Mirissa}}
Category:Populated places in Matara District Category:Populated places in Southern Province, Sri Lanka Category:Seaside resorts in Sri Lanka