The Singing Fish of Batticaloa: Sri Lanka’s Quietest Mystery
A Sound Passed Down Through Generations, the silence around you and the stars above the sea make the wait worthwhile even if the fish do not sing that evening.
Long after the sun has vanished , somewhere in the stillness of the Batticaloa Lagoon , something unusual and beautiful starts to stir under its calm waters.
Like someone plucking a harp underwater, a soft, pulsating hum.
The locals refer to it as the "Singing Fish".
A Sound Passed Down Through Generations
There is no novelty about this phenomena. For millennia, fishermen have reported the sound, usually characterizing it as a soft vibration rising through the water on peaceful, moonlit evenings.
A Catholic priest called Father Lang made a well-known recording of the sound close to Kallady Bridge in the 1950s. Using a simple stethoscope and reel-to--reel recorder, he recorded something remarkable: a rhythmic, underwater song that seemed to originate nowhere.
How to Hear the Singing Fish
Best Conditions
- Time: Quiet nights between March and August
- Place: Kallady Bridge, or anywhere along the inner Batticaloa Lagoon
- Tools: A wooden pole or oar, pressed to your ear, can help you hear the vibrations more clearly
The sound is not guaranteed. You go hoping as much as to hear. The silence around you and the stars above the sea make the wait worthwhile even if the fish do not sing that evening.
Since then, scientists have assumed that male fish vibrating their swim bladders during mating season could produce the sounds. Possibly a local variant, the plainfin midshipman. But in Batticaloa, science is just one aspect of the story.
For most locals, the Singing Fish represent something more—a local legend, a lullaby, and a reminder that some magic cannot quite be explained.
Nearby Touches of Culture
Only a few know that Batticaloa is a charming coastal town full of character and hidden corners of interest. While you’re there do not forget to:
- Visit the Batticaloa Fort
- Try fresh seafood from a lagoon-side café
- Walk or cycle along the lagoon bund at sunrise
It’s quiet and culturally diverse than many beach towns—and that’s exactly why people make sure to add it to their itineraries.
Final Thoughts
The Singing Fish of Batticaloa might not be very noticeable. They do not stage a performance. But in a world of noise and chaos, they provide something different—a gentle reminder to wait, to listen, and to wonder. Come with interest. Sit next to the lagoon. And should the moment be perfect, you might hear Sri Lanka murmuring its secrets.
