One of the oldest mosques in the country, the Ketchimalai mosque lies near Bentota, widely regarded as the place where the first Arab traders landed on the shores of the country in 1024, bringing with them the religion of Islam. Perched on a rocky outcrop just south of the town’s fishing harbour, the gleaming white structure of Ketchimalai mosque exhibits distinct Arabic architecture and surrounded by a grove of palm trees makes for a picturesque site from across the bay.

Its history dates back to the 12th Century, with the burial here of Sultan Ashraff Waliullah, a royal from Hadramouth in Yemen, who lived in Beruwala. The legend states that while clearing his grave, the chief priest of a nearby mosque received a vision of the Sultan in a dream who requested him to construct a building there and dedicate the land around it to him. Later, during the period of Dutch rule, soldiers attempting to demolish this structure were driven from the site by an unseen person, and this reinforced the belief amongst Muslims that this was indeed a special place. Today the mosque is visited by Muslims from around the country in the hope that their wishes will be fulfilled.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass