According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), there are 156 classified tourist hotels and 228 unclassified tourist hotels in Sri Lanka. [1] Additionally, there are 40 boutique hotels, 51 boutique villas and 895 bungalows in the country. The classified hotels collectively have a capacity of 15,214 rooms, including 28 five-star hotels and 28 four-star hotels. [1] SLTDA's grading is based on the criteria set by the World Tourism Organization. In 2011, the classified hotels accounted for 70% of the total room capacity in the industry. [2] A number of accommodation facilities that built during the British colonial era have been converted to high-class hotels later. These include the Galle Face Hotel, the Grand Oriental Hotel, the Mount Lavinia Hotel, the Queen's Hotel, Kandy, the Grand Hotel and St. Andrew's Hotel and the New Oriental Hotel. [3]
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cinnamon Citadel Kandy | Kandy | 1983 | Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts | Kandy Walk Inn, a subsidiary of John Keells Hotels PLC | 119 | The hotel's main deck is decorated with Dumbara weaving designs, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, and an 18-foot handwoven wall hanging by Ena de Silva. [5] | |
Empire Hotel | Kandy | 1898 | — | Manor House Concepts | — | 14 | |
Helga's Folly | Kandy | 1960s | — | Helga De Silva Blow Perera | — | 16 | An Art Nouveau boutique hotel. [6] Kelly Jones of Stereophonics wrote the song "Madame Helga" after staying at the hotel. [7] |
Hotel Suisse | Kandy | Ceylon Hotels | The Kandy Hotels Company (1938) PLC, a subsidiary of Ceylon Hotels Corporation | — | 83 | Used as the HQ of the South East Asia Command during World War II under the command of the Earl Mountbatten. [8] | |
Mahaweli Reach Hotel | Kandy | 1973 | — | Mahaweli Reach Hotels PLC, a subsidiary of Universal Enterprises | 108 | The first five-star hotel in Kandy. [9] | |
The Kandy House | Gunnepana | 2005 | — | Manor House Concepts | — | 9 | Dates back to 1804. [10] |
The Manor House | Nugawela | 1998 | — | — | 10 | Former Nugawela Walauwa [11] | |
Queen's Hotel | Kandy | 1869 | Ceylon Hotels | The Kandy Hotels Company (1938) PLC, a subsidiary of Ceylon Hotels Corporation | — | 80 | The oldest hotel in Kandy. [8] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heritance Kandalama | Kandalama | 1994 | Heritance Hotels & Resorts | Kandalama Hotels (Pvt) Ltd, a sub-subsidiary of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings | 152 | Designed by Geoffrey Bawa. The first hotel in Asia to be accredited with the Green Globe standard. [12] | |
Hunas Falls Hotel | Elkaduwa | 1971 | — | Hunas Holdings PLC | — | 31 | Opened 1971 with prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in attendance. [13] |
Jetwing Vil Uyana | Sigiriya | 2006 | Jetwing Hotels | Jetwing Hotels | — | 36 | In 2023, Condé Nast Traveller named the hotel as one of the 15 best eco-hotels in the world. [14] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alpine Hotel | Nuwara Eliya | — | Alpine Hotel (Pvt) Ltd | — | 30 | Dates back to 1914 built Planter's Home [15] | |
The Grand Hotel | Nuwara Eliya | 1891 | Tangerine Hotels | The Nuwara Eliya Hotels Company PLC | 154 | The Nuwara Eliya Hotels Company purchased Barnes Hall in 1891. [16] | |
Heritance Tea Factory | Kandapola | 1996 | Heritance Hotels & Resorts | Hethersett Hotels Ltd (a subsidiary of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings) | 50 | The hotel won the merit award at the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards in 2001. [17] | |
The Hill Club | Nuwara Eliya | — | Hill Club Co. Ltd | — | 45 | Founded as a gentlemen's club in 1876; did not admit locals or women until 1967. [18] | |
St. Andrew's Hotel | Nuwara Eliya | 1891 | Jetwing Hotels | Jetwing Hotels | 56 | Built in 1875. Acquired by Jetwing Hotels in 1986. [19] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jetwing Jaffna | Jaffna | 2016 | Jetwing Hotels | Yarl Hotels (Pvt) Ltd | 55 | The tallest building in Jaffna. [20] | |
Tilko Jaffna City Hotel | Jaffna | 2010 | — | Tilko Jaffna City Hotel (Private) Limited | — | 42 | The first star-class hotel in Jaffna. [21] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amangalla | Galle | 1865 | Aman Resorts | Aman Resorts | — | 33 | Built in 1684. Formerly known as the New Oriental Hotel. [22] |
Cinnamon Bentota Beach | Bentota | 1967 | Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts | Ceylon Holiday Resorts, a subsidiary of John Keells Hotels PLC | 159 | Designed by Geoffrey Bawa. The first resort hotel in Sri Lanka. [23] | |
Closenberg Hotel | Galle | 1965 | — | Perera Abeywardena family | — | 20 | Built in 1860 on the ruins of a Dutch fort. Originally named Villa Marina. [24] |
Galle Fort Hotel | Galle | 2001 | — | A subsidiary of Lankem Ceylon | — | 12 | Lankem Ceylon acquired the hotel from an Australian investor in 2011. [25] |
Heritance Ahungalla | Ahungalla | 1981 | Heritance Hotels & Resorts | Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings | 152 | Originally known as the Triton Hotel, named after the Greek god Triton. [26] The first five-star beach resort in Sri Lanka. [27] | |
Jetwing Lighthouse | Galle | 1997 | Jetwing Hotels | The Lighthouse Hotels PLC, a subsidiary of Jetwing Hotels | 85 | Designed by Geoffrey Bawa [28] | |
Nooit Gedacht Hotel | Unawatuna | 1991 | — | — | 38 | Built in 1735 as a Dutch colonial mansion. [29] | |
Saman Villas | Bentota | 1995 | Jetwing Hotels | — | 27 | The first luxury boutique hotel in the country. [30] | |
The Fortress Resort & Spa | Koggala | 1973 | — | The Fortress Resorts PLC, an associate company of Vallibel One | — | 53 | Formerly called Club Horizon Hotel, Koggala. [31] Built like a fortress enclosing a Dutch-era villa. [32] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bandarawela Hotel | Bandarawela | 1894 | Aitken Spence Hotels and Resorts | Millers Ltd, a subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) | — | 33 | The hotel was declared an archaeological conserved building and a monument on 23 January 2009. [33] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cinnamon Grand Colombo | Colombo | 1975 | Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts | Asian Hotels and Properties PLC, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings | 501 | Formerly known as the Lanka Oberoi Hotel. [34] | |
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo | Colombo | 1981 | Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts | Trans Asia Hotels PLC, a subsidiary of Asian Hotels and Properties PLC | 346 | Previously known as the Ramada Renaissance Hotel. [35] During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013, some of the heads of State stayed at the hotel. [36] | |
Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort | Colombo | 2024 | Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts | Waterfront Properties, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings | — | 800 | The first integrated resort in Sri Lanka [37] and the largest private investment in the country. It is planned to open in the third quarter of 2024. [38] |
Cinnamon Red Colombo | Colombo | 2014 | Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts | Capitol Hotel Holdings, a joint venture of Sanken, John Keells Holdings, and a Singaporean firm | 243 | Sri Lanka's first 'lean luxury' hotel. [39] | |
Galadari Hotel | Colombo | 1984 | — | Galadari Hotels Lanka PLC, a subsidiary of Galadari Brothers | 450 | The hotel was previously managed by Le Méridien and JW Marriott Hotels. [40] | |
Galle Face Hotel | Colombo | 1864 | — | Galle Face Hotel Company Ltd | 156 | One of the oldest hotels east of Suez Canal. [41] | |
Grand Oriental Hotel | Colombo | 1875 | — | Bank of Ceylon | 80 | ||
Hilton Colombo | Colombo | 1987 | Hilton Hotels & Resorts | Hotel Developers (Lanka) Ltd, a state-owned enterprise of the Government of Sri Lanka | 382 | Delisted from the Colombo Stock Exchange in 2020. Owned by Hotel Developers (Lanka) Ltd, a wholly owned state-owned enterprise. [42] | |
Hilton Colombo Residences | Colombo | 1998 | Hilton Hotels & Resorts | Hirdaramani Group | 165 apartments | One of the tallest buildings in Sri Lanka. [43] | |
ITC Ratnadipa | Colombo | April 2024 | ITC Hotels | WelcomHotels Lanka Pvt. Ltd (a subsidiary of ITC Limited) | — | 352 | ITC Hotel's first international investment [44] |
The Kingsbury | Colombo | 1973 | — | Hayleys | 229 | ||
Mount Lavinia Hotel | Mount Lavinia | 1877 | — | Mount Lavinia Hotel Group | 275 | ||
NH Collection Colombo | Colombo | 2017 | NH Collection | Softlogic Holdings | 219 | It is the first five-star-class hotel to be launched in Colombo in 25 years. [45] | |
Shangri-La Colombo | Colombo | 2017 | Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts | Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts | 500 | ||
Taj Samudra | Colombo | 1980 | Taj Hotels | TAL Lanka Hotels | 300 | One of the oldest five-star hotels in Colombo. [46] | |
Tintagel Colombo | Colombo | 2005 | Paradise Road Hotels | Bandaranaike family | — | 10 suites | The former town residence of the Bandaranaike family. In 1959, Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was fatally shot on the verandah of the house. [47] |
Hotel | Location | Opened | Chain | Proprietor | Class [4] | Number of rooms | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Water Hotel | Wadduwa | 1998 | — | Union Resorts | 100 | The hotel was designed by Geoffrey Bawa. [48] |
Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination. Tourism is a key industry that attracts international tourists yearly. Foreigners visit Sri Lanka to see nature, wildlife, historical monuments, and indigenous culture. In 2018, tourist arrivals peaked at 2.5 million, who spent a total of US$5.6 billion in the country. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused tourist numbers to decrease by 92% in 2020. As of 2022, tourist numbers have not rebounded from the pre-crisis high. The government is attempting to attract foreign investment in the country's tourism industry, which began in earnest after the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009.
Jetwing Hotels Limited is a Sri Lankan hotel chain. Jetwing was founded in the 1970s by Herbert Cooray when he purchased the Blue Oceanic Hotel in Negombo from its Swedish owner Vingressor and renamed it Jetwing. Cooray founded Jetwing Travels in 1981. Jetwing Hotels' current chairman, Hiran Cooray, is the son of Herbert Cooray. Jetwing Symphony acts as the holding company for the new hotel of the Jetwing Group.
The Cinnamon Grand Colombo, trading as Asian Hotels and Properties PLC and formerly called the Hotel Lanka Oberoi, is a luxury five-star hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Cinnamon Grand is located at 77 Galle Road, Kollupitiya, Colombo.
John Keells Hotels PLC is a hotel holding company in Sri Lanka. John Keells built its first resort in 1973 in Habarana. John Keells' hotel management company operated under several names. In the 1970s, the company was known as Walkers Tours Hotels. Then in the 1980s, it was known as simply Hotel Management & Marketing Services, and finally, in the 1990s, the company became to known as John Keells Hotels. John Keells ventured into the Maldives in 1996 with the acquisition of Velidhu Resort Hotel. In 2004, the hotel chain underwent a major restructuring. All resorts were brought under John Keells Hotels Limited, and the company was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.
Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC is a manufacturer, distributor and marketer of Petroleum-based lubricants in Sri Lanka. The company is one of the constituents of the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index and the Chevron Corporation holds a controlling stake (51.00%) of the company's stocks. The company offers engine oils, gear oils, transmission oils under the brand name Havoline while offering diesel vehicle engine oils, industrial lubricants, coolants, brake fluids under the brand name Delo. For the financial year 2019/20, Chevron Lubricants Lanka was ranked 67th in LMD 100, a list of listed companies by revenue in Sri Lanka.
Amaya Resorts & Spas, trading as Hayleys Leisure PLC, is a Sri Lankan hospitality company. The company is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange on 11 March 1996 and Sri Lankan conglomerate, Hayleys owns a controlling stake of 61.66% of the company's stocks. In 2020, Amaya Resorts & Spas ranked 87th amongst the top 100 most valuable brands in Sri Lanka by Brand Finance.
Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo, trading as Trans Asia Hotels PLC, is a five-star luxury hotel located in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The hotel is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and John Keells Holdings owns a stake of 92% of the company's shares, 48% directly and 43% through its subsidiary Asian Hotels and Properties PLC. Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo has 346 rooms including 20 suites.
Taj Samudra, trading as TAL Lanka Hotels PLC, is a five-star luxury hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The hotel is a listed company on the Colombo Stock Exchange since 1982 and the majority of the shares are held by Taj Hotels. The hotel is located right opposite Galle Face Green facing the Indian Ocean. The hotel is one of the oldest five-star hotels in the city of Colombo. Brand Finance ranked Taj Samudra 78th amongst the 100 most valuable brands in Sri Lanka for 2021.
Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, formerly known as The Citadel Kandy, is a four-star hotel located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The hotel is located on the bank of the Mahaweli River. The hotel's main deck is decorated with Dumbara weaving designs and an 18-foot handwoven wall hanging by Ena de Silva.
Mahaweli Reach Hotel, traded as Mahaweli Reach Hotels PLC, is a five-star luxury hotel in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The hotel is located on the banks of the Mahaweli River, hence the name. The hotel was founded in 1973 and in 1982, it was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. Mahaweli Reach became the first five-star hotel in Kandy in 2000. Universal Enterprises, a Maldivian resort operator has been the controlling shareholder of the hotel since 2002. Mahaweli Reach, a hotel with colonial architecture, was designed by Ashley de Vos.
The Fortress Resort & Spa, traded as The Fortress Resorts PLC, is a luxury boutique hotel in Koggala, Sri Lanka. The resort was incorporated in 1973. The resort is listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. In 2003, Sri Lankan entrepreneur, Dhammika Perera acquired a controlling stake in the resort. The resort was formerly known as Club Horizon Hotel, Koggala and was renamed to its current name in the same year. The hotel was affected by the 2019 Easter bombings. The resort is designed like a fortress to enclose a Dutch-era villa.
Ceylon Grain Elevators PLC is an animal feed manufacturing company in Sri Lanka. The company was incorporated in 1982 as a result of an agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and Prima Limited of Singapore. The company was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1984. Singapore-based, Prima Limited holds a controlling stake in the company's stocks. Ceylon Grain Elevators is part of the Prima Group in Sri Lanka. The company is ranked 50th in LMD 100, an annual list of listed companies in Sri Lanka by revenue.
Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC, doing business as Asiri Health, is the largest private healthcare provider in Sri Lanka. The company commenced operations in 1986 and was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in the same year. Asiri Hospitals operate six hospitals and collectively has over an 800-bed capacity. Softlogic Holdings is the parent company of Asiri Hospitals group. Asiri Hospital Holdings ranked 57th in the LMD 100, an annual list of listed companies by revenue, in the 2020/21 edition.
Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC, often called Ceylon Hotels, is a hospitality company in Sri Lanka. The company was incorporated through an Act of the Parliament of Ceylon in 1966. The company was listed as a public company in the following year. Ceylon Hotel Holdings, a subsidiary of Galle Face Hotels Group is the holding company of Ceylon Hotels Corporation. Ceylon Hotels' subsidiary, Kandy Hotels Company owns and operates the Queen's Hotel and the Hotel Suisse heritage hotels.
Cinnamon Bentota Beach, formerly known as Bentota Beach Hotel, is a luxury five-star hotel in Bentota, Sri Lanka. The hotel was built in 1967 and designed by Geoffrey Bawa. After refurbishment, the hotel reopened in 2019. The hotel is owned and operated by a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings under its luxury hotel chain, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. Cinnamon Bentota Beach is known for its architecture and decor.
Jetwing Symphony PLC is a hotel chain in Sri Lanka. The company was incorporated in 2007. Following an oversubscribed Initial Public Offering in December 2017, the company started publicly trading on the Colombo Stock Exchange in January 2018. Jetwing Symphony is the holding company of the Jetwing Group's new hotels. As of 2022, Jetwing Symphony manages seven properties across the country.
Renuka Holdings PLC, also called Renuka Group, is a conglomerate company in Sri Lanka. Ceylonese businessman Alfred Thambiyah laid the foundations of the Renuka Group by acquiring the Crago Boat Dispatch Company in 1936 and establishing Renuka Hotel, named after his youngest daughter Indu Renuka in 1969. Indu Renuka Rajiyah founded Renuka Enterprises in 1975, and Renuka Holdings in 1979 marked the formal beginning of the group. Renuka Holdings went public in 2008 and following the listing on the Colombo Stock Exchange, the company pursued a growth strategy. Renuka Holdings is one of the LMD 100 companies in Sri Lanka and also one of the 20 largest conglomerates in Sri Lanka.
Ambeon Holdings PLC is a conglomerate holding company based in Sri Lanka. John Walker who established Walker Sons and Company is the founder of the company. In 1874, Walker founded Walker and Greig to supply agricultural machinery to plantations in the hill country. The company was incorporated in 1910 and in 1959, it was brought under Brown and Company. In 1970, the company was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.
Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC is a hotel chain holding company based in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan conglomerate Aitken Spence is the parent company of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings. The company operates hotels in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Oman and India. Aitken Spence ventured into the hospitality business by building two seaside resorts designed by Geoffrey Bawa. The company was founded in 1978 as Ahungalla Hotels Ltd and is the proprietor of the Hotel Triton. Ahungalla Hotels Ltd was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1980. In 1994, after acquiring Aitken Spence Hotels Ltd, the company gained control of the properties of the hotel chain. Kandalama Hotel and the Tea Factory Hotel commenced operations in 1994 and 1996 respectively. The company opened its first resort in the Maldives in 1993.
Hunas Falls Hotel is a boutique hotel in Elkaduwa, Sri Lanka. The hotel is located about 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Matale and about 24 kilometres (15 mi) from Kandy, in Matale District. Eponymous Hunnas Falls is located on the grounds of the hotel. Hunas Holdings PLC is the owner and operator of the hotel. Hunas Falls Hotel opened in 1971 with prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in attendance. The government took control of the hotel in 1976 from Colombo Commercial Company. Subsequently, the hotel was privatised in 1991 and a Hayleys-Jetwing joint venture acquired a controlling stake. Hunas Falls Hotels Ltd was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1993. Jetwing managed the Hunas Falls Hotel under its brand name. When Hayleys acquired Amaya Leisure, Amaya assumed the management of the hotel.