Koggala identifies with the largest natural inland lake in Sri Lanka dotted with several islands such as the popular madolduwa. Koggala also has a couple of beach hotels with a beach and coral reef close to the shoreline that has created patches of swimming pools in the sea. Being the birth place of renowned Sinhalese author and poet Martin Wickramasinghe, Koggala also houses a folk art museum and most importantly one of the domestic airports in the country since colonial times.

Prior to the Second World War, the lake at Koggala was used for seaplanes. After the outbreak of World War II, Koggala became vital to the British and Australian war effort due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean.

Koggala Beach Related references