Villa Ranawara

Villa Ranawara is a grand private estate on Sri Lanka’s south coast near Tangalle, spread across some 23 acres of gardens and coastal land with around 400 metres of its own beachfront. Peacocks wander the lawns, the Kalametiya bird sanctuary is close by, and the Yala and Udawalawe national parks are within reach for safari days. With seven king bedrooms and a large resident team, it is ideal for multi-generational families and groups of friends who want space, privacy and genuinely attentive service.

The heart of the estate is a vast infinity pool laid out in front of the house, framed by bougainvillea-draped pergolas, a shaded pool pavilion and long lines of sun loungers looking over the grounds towards the sea. A covered outdoor dining terrace sits beside the pool, and upstairs a huge open-air lounge on the first floor, with sofas and a counter for drinks, catches the breeze and the sunset. There is a tennis court and table tennis for active afternoons, and a separate massage pavilion overlooking the grounds for treatments.

Inside, colonial-influenced interiors combine polished floors, timber ceilings and antique-style furniture across two living rooms, a library and a cinema room with a big screen, games and board games. The dining room seats the whole group, and an in-house chef cooks Sri Lankan and international dishes using local produce. Five suites are in the main house and two more in garden bungalows about 50 metres away, all with king beds, mosquito nets, air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms, with garden or ocean views.