A New Wave of Villa Development

A summary and review of the most exciting villa developments currently in progress in Sri Lanka

August 12, 2021

Sri Lanka has, for some years, been home to a collection of beautiful private villas. The much-celebrated Galle Fort offers unique historical charm, while inland plots provide stunning settings for renovations or new concepts. Golden sandy beaches, of course, have an obvious villa-friendly appeal.

The vast majority of those villas, though, have been privately thought-up and developed. We’re just now seeing a trend towards multi-property villa developments, both by the coast and further inland.

Time then, we thought, for a look at some of the most exciting of these projects.

For further information on any of the villa options, or for sales enquiries please contact us on:

hello@thenewsrilankanhouse.com OR +94 76 640 4373)

The Plantation Luxury Villas - Koggala (near Galle)

The Plantation Villas sees the development of 14 ecologically-considered luxury villas a little to the north of Koggala Lake, inland from Thalpe on Sri Lanka’s South Coast.

Offered alongside the infrastructure and facilities of a luxury boutique resort, and to be managed by a 5-star international brand, the project offers a 7% guaranteed return in the first 5 years of ownership* as well as option of developer buy-back at year 5 at sale price plus 12.5%.

Ownership is offered on 99-year lease basis with one-bedroom villas starting from USD 243,000.

Villas start at 886 square feet (covered floor) running to 1,866 for the largest two-bedroom options. All offer private pools as well as access to the ‘resort’ infrastructure of spa, gym, meditation and yoga shala, clubhouse, restaurant and fine spirits bar.

* 7% return offered for owners having up to 30 days use per year.

• 14 luxury villas across a 3.5 acre site

• Forecast pricing (USD) - 243,000 - 475,000

• 7.5 Km (by road) inland from Ahangama on the South Coast

• Villa options of 1-2 bedrooms

• Internal square feet from 886 to 1,866

• Guaranteed return in first 5 years of 7%

• Sale process - sale off-plan with 6 payment instalments

• Current status - 7 of 14 villas sold; first 3 villas approaching completion

• Team

• Developer & Contractor - Sundara

• Architect - Manjula Kalhara

• Project manager - Koombi

Santani Residences - Werapitiya (near Kandy)

Architectural impression of 2-bedroom villa

A next step for the acclaimed Santani Wellness Resort and Spa, the offering of 20 private residences on their mountain-top location near Kandy in the Central Province.

The residences are offered for full private use or with rental management provided by Santani.

For those opting for full rental management, 20% of all rental revenue will be distributed to the owner with a minimum guaranteed annual return of 8% in the first 5 years. A buy-back option at year 5 is available with pricing to guarantee a IRR of 12%. Owners will have 30 days use per year even if their residence is in the rental pool.

Owners will have access to the facilities and experiences provided by the world-renowned wellness hotel including pool, spa, treatments, dining.

Villas are offered for sale off-plan with architectural design by Tissara Thanapathy. They start from approximately USD 585,000 according to final design specification. All will include private swimming pools as well as infrastructure (kitchens/storage etc.) for fully self-contained use.

• 20 luxury villas across a 120 acre site

• Forecast pricing (USD) - from USD 585,000 (according to final agreed designs)

• 35 Km (by road) north east of Kandy in the Central Province

• Villa options of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms

• Internal square feet from 2,200 to 5,500

• Guaranteed annual return in first 5 years of 8% - potential for higher returns for owners giving rental management to Santani

• Sale process - sale off-plan with initial deposit and 5 instalment payments

• Timeline - construction to start once 10 plots sold

• Current status - 3 of 10 sold, 5 pending

Sedona Canyon Estate - Nakiyadeniya (near Galle)

Architectural impression of ‘Montana’ villa at Sedona Canyon Estate

A joint-venture with Galle-based Shakticola, an architectural design and project management company, Sedona Canyon Estate will see the development of 6 prime luxury villas on a private hillside estate in Nakiyandeniya, Southern Sri Lanka.

On the estate which adjoins the Kanneliya Forest Reserve, plots of just under one acre are offered for freehold ownership.

Designs are offered for 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes with final layouts and interiors subject to owners’ specifications.  

The development offers a combination of architectural styles, with design options taking modernist, neo-classical and South-East Asian influences.

While the development targets owners buying for their own use, villa rental and management services will be offered by sub-contract with a high end management service.

• 6 luxury residences/homes across a 6 acre site

• Forecast pricing (USD) - 470,000 - 970,000

• 26km (by road) North-East of Galle 

• Home options of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms 

• Internal square feet - subject to final design

• Sale process - sale off-plan with deposit and two further payments

• Current status – 2 of 6 sold and 1 under construction.

• Ownership type – Freehold

Team

• Developer - Shakticola

• Designer – Trevor Charles Morgan

• Contractor - Crystal Construction

Tamba Villas - Thalpe (near Galle)

A significant 34 villa development, 300 metres inland on the highly sought-after “golden mile” coastal stretch surrounding Thalpe in Southern Sri Lanka.

The development offers 2- and 3-bedroom villas on 12 perch plots across a private 4-acre coconut grove estate.

All villas have private pools with a design aesthetic blending traditional Sri Lankan and Balinese styles.

Villa pricing is from USD 289,000 with under roof area starting from 1,500 square feet.

Villa rental and management is offered by sub-contract to Eden Villas.

• 34 private villas

• Forecast pricing (USD) – 289,000 – 315,000

• 9.5 km east of Galle at Thalpe

• Villa options of 2 & 3 bedrooms

• Plot sizes approx. 12 perches

• Under roof area - from 1,500 squre feet

• Sale process - sale off-plan with deposit and 11 monthly payments

• Ownership type – Freehold and leasehold options

• Current status – 2 sold

Team

• Developer - Shakticola

• Developer – Trevor Charles Morgan

• Contractor - Crystal Construction

The Six - Midigama (near Galle)

A concept developed by Crystal Property Group, chaired by former Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara, The Six is the only development featured here to offer direct beachfront property, with 4-bedroom luxury villas in Midigama, a little west of Weligama, on the South Coast.

Set across two-levels, each villa offers a plunge pool with the master suite as well as main swimming pool adjoining a deck and sitting area opening to the beach. Communal areas within the development provide a gymnasium, therapy room and kids play area.

Given the location, the development group is, justifiably, confident of strong rental potential, forecasting an annual yield for owners from 8%-12%.

Villa management is provided by Teardrop Boutique Management, the team behind the successful and highly thought of Teardrop group of hotels. In addition to standard management services each villa is assigned a private butler.

• 6 private villas

• Forecast pricing (USD) – 1.375m - 1.425m

• 5km west of Weligama

• 4-bedrooms

• Plot sizes - 36-41 perches

• Under roof area - 5,600 - 6,500 square feet

• Sale process - sale off-plan with USD 50,000 deposit and 7 further payments

• Ownership type – Freehold

• Current status – 3 sold

Team

• Developer - Crystal Property Group

• Architect – Chamika de Alwis

• Project Manager - Omar Mizran

For villa sale enquires - hello@thenewsrilankanhouse.com OR +94 76 640 4373