"Colonial mystique, a secret tunnel, an amazing sunset view and a scandalous affair involving a bare breasted dancer- Sri Lanka's Mount Lavinia Hotel seems to have them all……." Scott McDonald, Reuters.

Starting out as an imposing and majestic weekend abode for a British Governor in 1806, situated 12 kms from the city centre, Mount Lavinia Hotel, consisting of 275 rooms, retains the old world charm and imperial elegance of yesteryear combined with the most up to date facilities of a modern resort that any discerning traveler might ask for.

A vast expanse of golden sandy beaches edged with frothy white lacing of waters that go far into the clearest and deepest blues you've ever seen….under a warm sun by day and a silvery moon on a night sky - you'll find what was once the sprawling mansion of Sir Thomas Maitland.

It is said that one cannot blame the staid and sober Sir Thomas Maitland for forgetting himself and falling head over heels in love with a local mestizo named Lavinia. Given the circumstances, the romantic setting, the enticing eyes and the flaming dances of Lavinia after whom the area itself has been named, anyone might have done the same

This perhaps is why Mount Lavinia Hotel is reputed to be the most romantic and popular venue for weddings and a favourite destination for honeymooners.

An extract from Newsweek magazine 13th November 2000, which describes The Mount Lavinia Hotel Terrace as "One of the World's Best Gathering Places" has this to say…….."For many people the romance of the East is inseparable from the Old World Charm of its colonial era buildings - and none is more romantic than Colombo's Mount Lavinia Hotel….Today, the Hotel's Terrace Bar offers much more than just a romantic history. Connoisseurs of gracious living come for the heart- stoppingly beautiful panorama of the Indian Ocean. But equally potent are the ice -cold beers, gin and tonics, and whisky and sodas that slip down so smoothly with the setting of the sun."

Or if your heart is set on the soft sands of the Paradise beach, try out the Seafood Market on the beach daily in the evenings and have your favourite seafood cooked your favourite way.