Only a short drive from the international airport at Katunayake, Negombo was the island’s first coastal resort and although the beaches of the south and west coast are better suited for beach lovers, the convenience of Negombo makes it a popular rest stop before leaving the country or heading inland to explore. Control of Negombo alternated between the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the town was a major port for the cinnamon trade, and the bustling modern town retains points of interest for the passing traveller.