The main industries are tourism and fishing . Weligama is a popular tourist destination and hosts several boutique hotels including an off shore islet known as '' Taprobane '' , which houses a villa constructed by the French Count de Mauny , and is currently owned by Geoffrey Dobbs . It was the birthplace of the scholar monk Weligama Sri Sumangala . Weligama was significantly affected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake , with 15 % of the area destroyed , with over 2,200 houses damaged or washed away , and 469 reported deaths
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on Sri Lanka
Weligama