Bentota - Beach lovers' paradise

by Beverley Jansz

Bentota beach, one of Sri Lanka's most fascinating beach resorts, offers some of the safest swimming in the island. It is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of a beautiful beach.

Bentota is truly a beach lovers' paradise not only for foreign tourists, but Sri Lankans alike. It is the favourite chilling place for frequent independent travellers. Year after year tourists from around the world keep coming back to Bentota to enjoy the beauty of a world famous beach.

Bentota retains some of the mystic charm that still draws the beach combers to this gorgeous beach resort, It is a great place to start off your holiday.

Hotel Ceysands

All your cares seem to be left behind as the ferry glides you gently across the 'Bentota Ganga' to the impressive entrance of Hotel Ceysands.

60 Kms, South of Colombo, sited on a spit of land between the Bentota river (or 'Bentota Ganga') and the Bentota beach. Hotel Ceysands is a perfect stopover for tourists who seek the pleasure of sun, sand and surf. Hotel Ceysands offers 84 A/C rooms with shower, balcony and terrace, hot and cold water, telephone, room service and laundry service. Out of the 84 guest rooms, 64 are standard rooms with sea view and 20 are superior rooms with TV, mini-bar and hair dryer.

The spacious restaurant serves Western, Eastern, Chinese, speciality seafood from the 'Catch of the day' from the Bentota beach, Sri Lankan cuisine, barbecues and buffets. The well stocked two bar at the hotel offers a wide range of wines, spirits, liqueurs, beer and fruit guices.

The hotel has two beautiful swimming pools, a Tennis Court and offers waterskiing, windsurfing and boat cruises.

A unique feature at Hotel Ceysands is the floating restaurant "Pontoon", says the hotel's versatile and young Assistant Manager, Maximus Waragoda. Dining under the stars on the Bentota river on the 'Pontoon' is certainly a unique experience to tourists, Waragoda says.

"Our future plan is to construct an modern 'Ayurvedic Spa' says the hotel's Director/General Manager and Chief Executive officer, Dulip de Alwis. Hotel Ceysands is owned and managed by Ceylinco Tourist Hotels Ltd. Its Chairman is Deshamanya Dr. Lalith Kotalawala. Mrs. S. P. C. Kotalawala is the hotel's Deputy Chairman while veteran hotelier, Dulip de Alwis is the Director/General Manager and CEO. Hotel Ceysands can be reached via E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.ceysands.com