Twenty minutes from the international airport, Negombo earns its place as considerably more than a transit night. The town’s Dutch-built canal system is still in daily use by local fishermen, the lagoon behind the beach is rich with mangroves and birdlife, and the beachside seafood culture is genuine and unhurried. For travellers who want a soft coastal introduction to Sri Lanka rather than an immediate inland transfer, Negombo is the right first night.