Foul Point Lighthouse
A historic lighthouse on a sandy point across the bay from Trincomalee, marking the southern entrance to the great natural harbour, with quiet beaches nearby.
At the outer southeastern point of Trincomalee Bay, marking the entrance to one of the world's finest natural harbors, Foul Point Lighthouse has guided ships safely along this stretch of coast since the British built it in 1863. Standing 32 meters tall with a 25 meter diameter and constructed across five internal levels connected by steel stairs, the lighthouse replaced an earlier structure and was specifically built using iron rather than stone or brick, a cost saving decision noted in period correspondence given how difficult it would have been to transport heavier building materials by water to this remote point.
The lighthouse's more recent history carries real weight from Sri Lanka's civil war, sitting in territory that fell under LTTE control at various points during the conflict, it became accessible only by sea for years and went entirely unmaintained during that period, with reports indicating rebel fighters used its height to monitor army movements across Trincomalee harbor from its vantage point. Following the defeat of the LTTE in 2009, the surrounding villages gradually returned to normalcy and access to the lighthouse was slowly restored alongside the wider redevelopment of the region.
Standing on the same promontory that's made Trincomalee's harbor strategically vital for centuries, from ancient Sinhalese kings through Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial rule, Foul Point Lighthouse offers a quieter, less visited counterpart to the area's more famous historical sites, a working maritime landmark whose own story of wartime disruption and slow recovery mirrors much of the wider region's modern history.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free to view
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Best time: Late afternoon
Getting there
At Sampur across the bay, reached by a longer road journey around the harbour.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Foul Point Lighthouse?
- Free to view.
- What are the opening hours at Foul Point Lighthouse?
- Daylight hours.
- How long should I spend at Foul Point Lighthouse?
- Plan for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- When is the best time to visit Foul Point Lighthouse?
- Late afternoon.
- How do I get to Foul Point Lighthouse?
- At Sampur across the bay, reached by a longer road journey around the harbour.