Dikwella is noted for its long sandy beach which is protected by headlands, reefs and sand-bars, making it safer for swimming.

Dikwella is the location of Sri Lanka's largest seated Buddha statue, which is 50 metres (160 ft) tall.

Walls in the rooms of the building behind the statue are decorated with a 'library' of colourful pictures depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha and punishments of miscreants.

[3] These colourful Buddhist festivals usually include daytime and torch-lit night-time processions of caparisoned temple elephants, dancers and musicians.

Local inshore fishermen, especially at the sheltered Pehambiya end, mostly use colourful small Oru outrigger canoes which are easier to manoeuvre over the seasonal shifting sand-bars.