Villa Sanasuma

Villa Sanasuma is a classic whitewashed beach house at Kosgoda, just south of Bentota, where a palm-lined lawn runs straight down to a clean, quiet stretch of golden sand. With four bedrooms for up to eight guests and a warm, family-run feel, it suits families and small groups of friends looking for a relaxed beach holiday with home-cooked Sri Lankan food.

The private pool sits in the garden with the ocean in view, surrounded by sun loungers and coconut palms, and the lawn leads down to the beach, where loungers and an umbrella are set out by the sea. A Sri Lankan-style dining pavilion with a barbecue and pizza oven is perfect for long lunches in the shade, and a beachside yoga pavilion makes the most of the cool mornings. Kosgoda’s turtle conservation centre is within walking distance along the coast.

Inside, terracotta floors, teal shutters, colonial-style furniture and bright fabrics give the house plenty of character. The living room has deep sofas and a staircase up to the first floor, and the dining room is lined with books and antique cabinets. The bedrooms have canopied beds draped in mosquito nets, with garden or sea views, and two of them open directly onto a terrace. Two staff live on site, and the cook prepares rice and curries, fresh seafood and salads from a daily menu.