The hotel was originally the residence of the Governor General of Ceylon, Sir Thomas Maitland, in the early 1800s. This hotel still has some of the old world charm and traditions (such as being met by an old-style doorman which takes you back to a bygone age) but with modern conveniences.

The hotel takes great pride in its cuisine and its head chef, Publis, who has been with the hotel since 1957, has his own cookery show on Sri Lankan TV and has also been shown on Rick Steins “ Far Eastern Odyssey” with his fantastic seafood.

It is located some 45 minutes south of Colombo, right on the coast and even has its own private beach. From here it is a journey of about an hour and a half to the airport.