Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Sri Lanka / Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia / Mount Lavinia Hotel
Mount Lavinia Hotel
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Western, Sri Lanka · Independent · Accessible Luxury
Sir Thomas Maitland's 1806 summer house, named for Lovina Aponsuwa, a hotel since 1877, a wartime hospital in between, a tunnel under the lawn for the governor's meetings. The house stands on the beach at Mount Lavinia, south of Colombo. Two hundred ten rooms. The mansion predates the hotel by seventy years, and the house is an independent Sri Lankan one.
- 210 rooms
- Opened 1877
- Neighborhood: Mount Lavinia beach
About Mount Lavinia Hotel
- The mansion predates the hotel by seventy years. Independent Sri Lankan house.
- The 1806 mansion stands on the beach at Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, south of Colombo, a hotel since 1877.
History
Originally constructed in 1806 as the summer residence for Sir Thomas Maitland, the second British Governor of Ceylon, the mansion was named 'Mount Lavinia' after his secret love, Lovina Aponsuwa. The property transitioned from a gubernatorial palace to a military hospital during World War II before officially becoming a full-fledged hotel in 1877. It remains one of Sri Lanka's most storied landmarks, preserving its grand colonial architecture and the famous underground tunnel used for the Governor's clandestine meetings.
The setting
On the beach at Mount Lavinia, south of Colombo. Sir Thomas Maitland's 1806 summer house became a hotel here in 1877.
Restaurants and bars
- Governor's Restaurant — Restaurant
Amenities
- Private golden-sand beach access
- The Governor's Restaurant and The Terrace dining
- Seafood Cove beachfront dining experience
- Historic secret tunnel (the legendary tryst site)
- Outdoor swimming pool with ocean views
- Grand colonial-style ballroom and event spaces
- Spa
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
Open Mount Lavinia Hotel in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.