Negombo is a charismatic fishing town north of Colombo. The Sinhalese refer to Negombo as Meegamuwa "The village of honey" (or bees) due to a story about a swarm of bees that had settled in a boat pulled ashore here. However, it was not honey or bees that made this town know but cinnamon. Discovered by the Moors (a term first used during the Portuguese period to refer to Muslims) who settled on the west coast cinnamon trade. Due to its significant Catholic population, Negombo is dominated by shrines and picturesque churches.