With four bedrooms, Araliya is the largest of Sri Villas’ trio of boutique properties (three-bedroomed Nisala and two-bedroomed Sagara  being the others) that sit side-by-side overlooking the panoramic expanse of west coast beach and deep blue sea. Ideal for either one or two families, the villa has two serene suites upstairs with a shared sea-view balcony and two smaller, more colourful bedrooms – one of which has a TV and DVD player – on the ground floor  that are ideal for the kids. Living and dining space designed for contemporary living spills through wide open doorways onto a shared garden with elongated swimming pool, variety of palms, tranquil beachside massage hut and grassy lawn accented by the melody of birdsong and waves.

A little rickety gate to the front of Araliya leads onto a wide golden beach that stretches for half a kilometre between two rocky outcrops; it’s mostly deserted except for the odd fishermen, the occasional turtle and a scattering of strollers at sunset. You can swim and body board in the sea here during the November to April season although the villa’s inviting lap pool – only a few footsteps from the villa - is an absolutely glorious place to while away the hours of the day, and faces right out towards the sunset; its generous size is definitely a bonus, as you can really enjoy a proper swim.

Sri Villas is more sociable than serene and designed for conviviality rather than solitude. Even if you don’t know your neighbours before you arrive the chances are you’ll know a little more about them by the end of your trip; a quick discussion in the pool might turn into something long lasting as you push tables together for dinner and share a beach BBQ under the stars. Of course, the three owners of Sri Villas – themselves lifelong friends who have enjoyed the sociability of communal holidays - created the property with this in mind.
Renting these three fully-staffed villas together and having them exclusively to yourselves is an excellent option for big groups; it’s economical too since the villas operate a grocery system for food so all you pay for is the cost of the ingredients. With direct access onto a beautifully wide stretch of beach, Sri Villas is also a wonderful place to host events such as birthdays, weddings and family reunions.