About

Mawella Villas are situated in a tiny village called Moraketiara and our 100 year old Sethsiri bungalow is steeped in local history. During the British ruling between 1815 and 1948, each village in Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, had a headman, or Mudaliyar. It was their duty to oversee the day to day running of the village and in Moraketiara, our very own Sethsiri villa was the home of the local headman named Gunaratna.

Whilst he was in this role, the villa sat in 20 acres of coconut plantation and some of the trees in the property’s garden today were in fact planted by Gunaratna. He called this land Kotuwattawewatta, with watta translating to ‘huge garden’.

Since his death, the property has continued to be looked after by his family members and today, the bungalow is open to guests so you too can spend your days soaking up the natural environment and enjoying the serenity of the beautiful huge garden.

Mawella is located an hour from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Sri Lanka and just over two hours from Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. An airport transfer can be arranged by your host or you can hire a car, book a taxi or take a bus to reach Mawella.

Both of the properties at Mawella Villas are sat within an old working coconut plantation, less than 100 metres from the beach which is accessed via a private path. Mawella is a quiet stretch of golden sand and still home to a traditional fishing community. It is almost untouched by development and has therefore been rated as one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka.

Mawella Villas provides the perfect place for large group bookings, offering two houses situated in six acres of coconut plantation. The modern CJ’s House can sleep up to ten guests whilst the more rustic Sethsiri villa accommodates eight. With two swimming pools, sprawling gardens and two fully equipped kitchens, Mawella Villas has space for everyone, with cots and high chairs available upon request. A resident chef also provides a daily breakfast and for an extra fee, freshly cooked authentic evening meals.

Whilst this is an excellent choice for a large group of family and friends, the villas are also in the perfect location for interest groups, with the serene gardens offering a beautiful space for yoga retreats whilst nearby surfing beaches and the plethora of bird life offer something for sport and nature enthusiasts. 

For a group booking, please get in touch to discuss your exact requirements.