Sammanthurai Voyage Tips and guide

Sammanthurai is a town of over 60,000 people in the Ampara District of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It's renowned for its rice paddies and its inner harbour from ancient times - although it is now more than 4 km from the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Sammanthurai is an important and historical place, and was the first place where Dutch people arrived in Sri Lanka. Sammanthurai derives its name from ‘Sampan,’ the vessel, and ‘Sammankaran’ who were Muslims from India who came to Sammanthurai during the Portuguese period.

Most people are Tamil-speaking Muslims. Clothes are generally conservative but some young people are contemporary. Muslim women wear Hijab or Saree while the men wear Sarong, which could be either white or colour with typical Sri Lankan patterns. It is advisable for women, especially unaccompanied ones, to dress modestly and limit their interaction with unfamiliar local men.

The climate of Sammanthurai is tropical. Sammanthurai has two main seasons - summer and monsoon. Weatherwise, the best time to visit is during the North East monsoon season, which is November to April. Sammanthurai summers are humid and should be avoided.

There are several private bus services operating between Colombo and Sammanthurai. The drive takes about 7 hours and costs around Rs. 900.

Take the train to Batticaloa, from where you can take a bus or taxi to Sammanthurai (1½ - 2 hours).

The nearest airport is in Ampara, 18 km west of Sammanthurai. From Ampara either you can take a taxi or public transportation to Sammanthurai.

• The local "Three-Wheelers" ('Tuk-Tuk) are an amazingly cheap and exciting way of seeing the town, and they run virtually all day long.
• Walking is also recommended - around the Hijra junction area which is the main part of the town - as a way of seeing mosquesm and shops, and you can visit the Islamic Da'wa Institute and Hijra Mosque by on foot as well.

These are private hire minivans, best if you need transportation for the whole day.

• 7.3722681.801941 Grand Mosque Sammanthurai (by car or three wheeler from Hijra junction). 24/7. A mosque from the 17th century. Free entry.  
• 7.3722681.801942 Rice Research Station Sammanthurai (by bus, car or three wheeler from Hijra junction). 9AM-5PM. A rice research centre. Free.  
• 7.3722681.801943 South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (by bus, car or three wheeler from Hijra junction), fax: +94 67 2255217, [email protected]. 9AM-5PM. Faculty of Applied Sciences. Free.  
• 7.3722681.801944 Amir Ali Public Library Sammanthurai (by bus, car or three wheeler from Hijra junction). 9AM-5PM. A modern library. Free.  
• 7.3722681.801945 Islamic Da'wa Institute and Hijra Mosque, Sammanthurai (by bus, car or three wheeler from Hijra junction). 9AM-5PM. An Islamic Da'wa Centre and a landmark building. Free.  

• Swimming, volleyball, badminton and gym in Presidential Sports Complex
• Hiking in the hilly countryside
• Photograph historic, iconic religious places, hills, rivers, local markets, street vendors, landmarks and green rice paddies including rice harvesting in season.

Amana Bank, the Bank of Ceylon, Seylan Bank, People's Bank, the National Savings Bank and the Hatton National Bank all have ATMs.

• Cargills Food City, 32/2, Ampara Road, Viliniyady Junction Sammanthurai (Walking distance from Hijra Junction), ☏ +94 67 2261477, [email protected]. Departmental store. 
• Hijra Super Market, Hijra Junction Sammanthurai (A few steps from Hijra Junction). Grocery store. 

• Grand Eastern Hotel, Ampara Road, Sammanthurai. Daily 10AM–11PM. One of the finest restaurants in the town. Sri Lankan Cuisine, full of innovative dishes. Famous for Eastern Koththu rotti. 
• 7.3681.861 Kadaphi Hotel, Police Road, Sammanthurai ( front of ZED office). Daily 7AM–10PM. Sammanthurai dishes, samba rice and curry, samosas. All are Halal foods. Registered hotel.  
• 7.3681.82 Raheem Hotel & Bakery, Ampara Road, Sammanthurai. Daily 7AM–10PM.  

Being a rice farming area, rice is the staple food. Biriyani, vattalappam and seafood are popular here. The cuisine is hot and spicy and provides delectable variety in chicken, mutton, beef and fish dishes.

Special foods of Sammanthurai:

• Mayyokka Fries (Sammanthurai French Fries)
• Babath (cow intestine) curry or fried
• Curd
• Kothu Rotti
• mutta kothu
• cow leg soup
• Samba Rice
• Pongal (Tamils' special food) available in special functions at home and Kovil
• Niyyath Soru (milk rice of Sammanthurai)
• Normal Samba rice & curry

Traditional foods:

• Vaarappam
• Murukku
• Paniyaaram
• Idiyappam Palaharam
• Payaththam Paniyaaram
• Thookkachu
• Sovi
• Niyyath

Just because local people drink tap or well water doesn't mean you should. Stick to bottled water as always.

Other drinks

• King Coconut

Special "Iftar food" available in Ramzan (Ramadan):

• Nombu Kanji
• Sarbath
• Fruit juices
• Fresh and cooked cow milk
• Mutton soup and beef soup in "Sammanthurai Tastuk Kade"

• Gaffoor Rest Inn, Ampara Road, Sammanthurai.

• 7.3677781.812831 Sammanthurai Base Hospital (Fronts the Karativu-Ampara Hwy (A31) to the North East of town), ☏ +94 67 2 260261. Government hospital. (updated Jan 2018)
• 7.3677781.812832 Medi Channel Hospital, Poomaraththadi Junction, Kalmunai Road, Sammanthurai. Private hospital.  
• 7.3677781.812833 Royal Channelling Centre, Police Road, Sammanthurai. Private hospital.  
• 7.3677781.812834 Medi Care, Hospital Road, Sammanthurai. Private hospital.  
• 7.3677781.812835 Jafas Pharmacy, Hijra Junction, Sammanthurai. Pharmacy  
• 7.3677781.812836 AMS Medical, Ampara Road, infront of Al Marjan MLC, Sammanthurai. Pharmacy  

The international code for Sri Lanka +94, for Sammanthurai area code 067 + the phone number. You can make long-distance calls from one of the many booths located in the town. Airtel provides landline phones and broadband internet connection to its subscribers in Sammanthurai.

Cell phone rates are pretty reasonable. There are five GSM service providers: Operators

• Airtel
• Dialog
• Mobitel
• Etisalat
• Hutch

There are several internet cafes. Amir Ali Public Library has free Wi-fi zone and computers.

• Arugam Bay - The bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the Ampara district of Sri Lanka. The bay is located about 73 km south of Sammanthurai. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination.
• Lahugala National Park - The park is next to the town of Pottuvil in the Ampara district. The park is about 76 km south of Sammanthurai and is an important habitat for the Sri Lankan elephant and endemic birds of Sri Lanka.
• Senanayaka Samuthra - The largest water tank in Sri Lanka near the Amopara town in the Ampara district.