Beruwela, in the south western costal belt of Sri Lanka is a relaxed beach resort which attracts independent travelers and families alike. The name Beruwela is derived from the Sinhalese word Beruwela (the place where the sail is lowered). It marks the spot for the first Moorish settlement on the island, established by Arab traders around the 8th century AD. A large population of Sri Lankan Moors, many of them gem traders, still live in this area, particularly in the "China Fort" district. The oldest mosque in Sri Lanka - the Kachchimalai Mosque - was built by the first Arab settlers on a rocky headland overlooking this town.