Chilaw

North of Colombo, Chilaw offers an ideal holiday goal with its lavishing lagoon, turquoise amazing sea with a plenitude of marine life, mangrove-bordered lakes, brilliant sun-kissed shorelines sifted by coconut trees, spirituality awakens and mind-calming religious places and not to miss accommodation in luxury. Chilaw is huge for its Cs. Coconut and Crabs. The waterfront town's smooth vibes, laid back way of life in Chilaw is a seaside dream ever wished for.
Chilaw is 85km North of Colombo known as Halawatha by locals. It is one of the three noteworthy angling harbors besides Negombo and Puttalam. A Roman Catholic influenced the town. Chilaw hosts to a peaceful stretch of shoreline separated by coconut trees alongside a stunning lagoon. Chilaw beach a calm and tranquil to lay back at the highest point of relaxation and swim. The town was famous in Portuguese and Dutch colonials for pearls on the shallow banks in the Mannar gulf. The community largely engaged in crab and prawn farming.

Attractions
Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary
The road to Anawilundawa lies in 15km from Chilaw town along Colombo – Puttalam (A3) road. From Colombo it is 95km. Even though it's North Western the usual dry zone, here it feels a wet zone. As it reduces waterways which makes the wet zone feeling in the dry season, better to choose a rainy season for a journey here. 
One of the six RAMSAR Sri Lankan wetlands, Anawilundawa. What makes Anawilundawa unique the three vastly different ecosystems of the mangroves, coast, and fresh water tank making. This remarkable biological setting has made it a great settling and rearing ground for several types of birds especially.
The Anawilundawa Bird Sanctuary is in the Puttalam more specifically Chilaw -Puttlam railroad line. It is set out on 1,397 hectares of woodland land and involves nine tanks; six big man-made to be specific Pinkattiya, Maradansola, Anawilundawa, Mayyawa, Surawila and Vellawali and three optional tanks, all associated with the other and filling in as one unit. Irrigation and cultivation are helping by tank storage as well as an asylum for 150 types of threatened fish, mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
White Ibis, Egret, Stalk, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Purple swamp hen, the Open-bill, Great cormorant, Herons are some bird species. Among mammals, Rusty-spotted cat, Fishing cat, the Indian otter, Slender loris, Toque monkey are recorded.

Munneswaram Kovil
Munneswaram kovil is located in Chilaw - Kurunegala road. The legendary mentioned religious place preserved from the reign of King Ravana which assumable older than a millennium. In 1448 King Parakramabahu VIII have reconstructed the kovil complex and continued the sacred rituals.
The main devalaya of kovil is dedicated to god Shiva, is one of the five ancient god Shiva Hindu kovils built in the South Indian region. In addition, there are devalaya (worship venue of god) dedicated for god Aiyanayaka, god Kataragama, goddess Badrakali, god Ganesha, goddess Paththini and Shiva lingam devalaya. Since ancient as Munneswaram had carried out regular worship, the buildings have reconstructed from time to time. As a result, many old parts have been destroyed, fortunately, some old door frames and stone pillars have been left over since ancient times. The old Shiva devalaya is still well preserved and apply regular paints. All the statues are stone carved and said brought from India.

St. James Church
The Anglican Church in Chilaw, St. James' Church. This beautiful church edifice is located in Weavers' Street in the midst of a lush coconut plantation facing the Negombo Lake. This church has a very interesting and significant history. Under Dutch rule in 1792, a community of weavers (about 50 families) was brought from Tuticorin and settled in Chilaw. It is from this community that the name Weavers' Street was derived. Though there is no trace of weavers today it stands as a reminder of past history.

Chilaw Beach
Quiet shoreline side with quiet waters ensured by a stone boundary. Ideal spot to unwind and get a look at anglers going out into the ocean in paddling boats. On the coastal stretch towards the Iranawila area, fishermen - a seasonal activity between October and April where fisherfolk pull a large fishing net laid in the deep sea from the shores with all their might.