Saman Villas

Saman Villas located in the fishing village of Aturuwella, near the south west coastal town of Bentota, Sri Lanka. Saman Villas opened its doors on Christmas day in 1995.[1] It is Sri Lanka’s first boutique hotel.[2][3]

Saman Villas
Location within Sri Lanka
General information
LocationAturuwella, Bentota, Sri Lanka
Coordinates6.395511°N 80.00455°E / 6.395511; 80.00455
Opening25 December 1995
ManagementSaman Villas Limited
Design and construction
ArchitectGeevaka De Soyza
DeveloperDaya Ratnayake
Other information
Number of suites27
Number of restaurants1
Website
http://www.samanvilla.com

Facilities

The hotel consists of 27 suites for guest accommodation set out in two-storey villas, some equipped with private pools,[2] a restaurant, bar, sunset lounge, an infinity pool, library, snooker table, boardroom facilities that can house up to 12 people, a jewellery shop, gym, sauna, hot tub and a spa.[4]

History

Saman Villas was originally designed to be a 72-room, 4-star hotel. However, in the early 1990s the new concept of boutique hotels was slowly evolving and taking root in some Asian countries and islands in the Pacific Ocean. This led the developer, Daya Ratnayake[5] (the owner of the Mermaid Hotel in Kalutara), after viewing examples in Koh Samui, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia, together with the appointed architect, Geevaka De Soyza,[6] to develop the first boutique hotel in Sri Lanka. The property that was opened for business on 25 December 1995 was introduced to the local market on 13 February 1996.[1] The hotel's name is derived from a native jasmine, saman pichcha, a fragrant flower used in floral offerings and garlands in Buddhist temples.[5]

Awards
  • 2007 Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism - 'Best Boutique Hotel in Sri Lanka'
  • 2008 Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism - 'Best Boutique Hotel in Sri Lanka'
  • 2009 Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism - 'Best Boutique Hotel in Sri Lanka'[7]
  • 2010 Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism - 'Best Boutique Hotel in Sri Lanka'[8]

References
  1. Ratnayake, Daya. "Who Pioneered Boutique Hotels Sri Lanka- Saman Villas or Geoffrey Dobbs". The Island.
  2. "Saman Villas: Where luxury takes on a new meaning". The Sunday Times.
  3. "First Boutique Hotel in Sri Lanka – Saman Villas". The Island. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  4. "Saman Villas". Lonely Planet.
  5. Corea, Sri Sangabo (3 September 2006). "Saman Villas ... a fairy tale come true". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  6. Karunananda, Inoka (December 2015). "Futures Lanka" (PDF). Bawa & Beyond. Enjoy Lanka Tours. 13 - Issue 2: 9. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. "Saman Villas : Best Boutique Hotel". The Sunday Times. 15 March 2009.
  8. Fernando, Susitha. "Saman Villas reopens to a Paradise". The Sunday Times.
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