Sergeant House is a small, unique, premium boutique villa adjacent Unawatuna Beach. It successfully meshes its colonial period style architectural splendour with 21st century luxury in a serene garden setting. The house and the surrounding pavilions are furnished with an elegant array of antique furniture, comfortable lounges and richly textured fabrics allowing guests to relax in style and comfort. It can be booked as a whole or as individual suites.
The kernel of the house is formed around a charming bungalow built in the early 1800’s. It is the oldest remaining building in the village of Ganahena. Both Portuguese and Dutch influences can be seen in its construction, together with its original classic Tuscan style verandah columns. It was once owned by best-selling another of Sinhala literature, Mr. W.A. De Silva, who lived from 1890 until 1957. One of Mr. De Silva’s long standing tenants in the bungalow was a notorious eccentric, dubbed “The Sergeant” by locals for his habits of wearing too formal clothing meddling in neighbor’s affairs and intrusively sitting himself down into other’s homes without ever leaving. The bungalow has been known as the Sergeant’s house ever since.
In 2004 landscape architect, Mark Smoot purchased the dwelling with a vision for this place, based on its unique attributes and proximity to the beach and Galle Fort. So began the long process of sensitively restoring and expanding the property to form a cluster of pavilions interwoven around the original bungalow, its gardens, ponds, fountains, courtyards and wrap-around swimming pool. The current owner, John McKissick has incorporated new ideas into the interior design of the villa.
A quick stroll from Sergeant House to Unawatuna Beach will reveal a white sand, half moon beach with its azure blue waters luring both locals and visitors. Here you will find swimmers, sun-seekers, kite flyers, or perhaps a few young cricketers in the late afternoon. Others spend their time enjoying refreshments and light meals at the mostly bohemian cafes and restaurants scattered along the beach. At night time the beach side is transformed into a hub of activity with illuminated bars and beach side dance clubs. All of this is a safe distance away from Sergeant House to preserve your peace and tranquility if you are not in the mood to indulge.
With only the bungalow, two suites and the newly created “Cave”, our aim is to give guests a pampered, private experience, not often found in larger hotels, and a memorable stay in Sri Lanka.