A small town on Sri Lanka's south coast, Mirissa (Sinhala: මිරිස්ස, romanised as Mirissa; Tamil: மிரிஸ்ஸ, romanised as Miris'sa) is situated in the Southern Province's Matara District. It is located at an elevation of 4 meters (13 feet) above sea level and is roughly 150 kilometres (93 miles) south of Colombo. Mirissa is a well-liked tourist attraction because to its beach and nightlife. In addition, it is a fishing port and a major spot on the island for whale and dolphin viewing. The south coast's biggest fishing port, Mirissa, is well-known for its butterfish, mullet, snapper, and tuna. The town began to see a sharp rise in tourism in the mid-1990s after the first tourist accommodations were constructed in 1980. [2] The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake triggered a tsunami that hit Mirissa, destroying or damaging many residences, guesthouses, shops, schools, and temples. Fourteen people were confirmed dead. The town is roughly 2 kilometres (1+1/4 miles) west of Mirissa railway station, which is on the Coastal or Southern Rail Line (which connects Colombo through to Matara). It is also roughly 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the Kokmaduwa Interchange of the Southern Motorway. Mirissa is situated on the A2 Highway, which connects Colombo to Wellawaya.