Suriyawatta has immediate appeal:  the location of the pool is amazing, the sea views stunning and Duminda’s cooking heightened our appreciation even more.   Relaxation comes easy here – evident from the wide lounging ledge in the pool, the comfy loungers, the cushioned daybeds and the shelves bursting with novels (both English and French, spanning all genres and eras, along with an eye-catching number of architecture and design tomes).

With three twin bedrooms, kids’ chairs, pool inflatables, garden games, a swing, and babysitters-on-call, this is an excellent villa for families (it sleeps 6 adults and four kids), and the fence between the upper and lower lawn (and the pool) provides peace of mind. Groups of friends will find the Sonos sound system wired to the pool area particularly appealing.

The excellent staff team is very professional, finding the right balance between being attentive and discreet. Great food comes out of the kitchen (and there’s a big suggestion menu), the stewards are there before you know what you need and the manager keeps everything shipshape. Distractions are well hidden; the main living room does have a TV and DVD player, but it is inside an antique cabinet. The kitchen is slightly separate from the house yet easily accessible and well equipped.

Taprobane is utterly unique, quirky and cool. Whilst it feels very sociable, it also offers plenty of private spots that maximise the views. Photos, letters and prints bring out its fun personality whilst the elegant colonial furnishings, some of their colours faded, sophisticate the property and give it a 1930’s feel.

The garden is a delight, its meandering pathways through the mature tropical foliage managing to make the island feel larger than it is. Artists and writers will be particularly drawn to Taprobane; the American writer Paul Bowles wrote the Spider House here. The infinity pool is a great place to watch the fishermen as they take to the sea or return heavily laden with their catch, whilst the seemingly endless number of scenic dining locations makes the most of the island from sunrise to sunset.

Families, groups of friends, honeymooners and decadent couples will adore Taprobane’s peace and privacy and whilst older children will love its Adventure Island appeal, it is possibly less suitable for younger kids who would need a lot of supervision. The sea crossing and number of steps on the island also might prove difficult for the elderly.

The staff of 12 includes a cook, a villa manager, six houseboys who have their own quarters and two security guards so guests are not only very well looked after but their privacy from the outside world is also guaranteed. Sunset drinks are served promptly on the veranda followed by meals that favour the fresh seafood for which Weligama is so renowned. Meals are discussed with the chef every morning so that the staff can head out to do the shopping (provisions on guest account). In the unlikely event that guests feel inclined to leave the tranquility of the island, the staff will assist in organising transport and recommending sight-seeing tours.

Note that there is no TV or DVD player at the villa, and internet is accessed via a USB dongle (provided).  The kitchen is part of the staff quarters in a lower portion of the house and unavailable to guests, yet with your own personal chef you’ll have little need of it. There is a pantry fridge on the dining terrace, which is kept stocked with cool drinks.