Mount Lavinia Hotel Ltd

Colonial mystique a secret tunnel an amazing sunset view and a scandalous affair involving a bare breasted dancer Sri Lankas Mount Lavinia Hotel seems to have them all Scott McDonald Reuters. Starting out as an imposing and majestic weekend abode for a British Governor in 1806 situated 12 kms from the city centre Mount Lavinia Hotel consisting of 275 rooms retains the old world charm and imperial elegance of yesteryear combined with the most up to date facilities of a modern resort that any discerning traveler might ask for. A vast expanse of golden sandy beaches edged with frothy white lacing of waters that go far into the clearest and deepest blues youve ever seen under a warm sun by day and a silvery moon on a night youll find what was once the sprawling mansion of Sir Thomas Maitland. Sir Thomas Maitland came to our island the appointed Governor of His Majesty King George and he fell in love. Far far below his station was Lavinia mestizo dancer a girl of mixed Sinhalese and Portuguese blood. Beautiful she must have been. Strikin exotic certainly for she inflamed the imagination and captured the heart of the man who was known as King Tom. So Sir Thomas began his search for some place in the country where he could build his residence. Of course the Governor was partial to a certain area known as Galkiss and before a year was out such was the impelling force of passion had built a small but comfortable house on a rocky headland the only elevated land on the western shore looking out over the beautiful bay. Described as being handsomely built laid out in mahogany and calamander wood the mansion with its white columns polished wooden floors intricately carved wood ceilings and wide windows open to the sea breezes became the trysting place for the lovers. In a time when moral rectitude bent a sternly disapproving glance on the smallest infringement of rigid morality the passion of Lovina and Sir Thomas flourished in secret. For five years Lovina flitted