The idea of Monara was born on a quiet afternoon exploring the Seenimodara escarpment. The sweeping views of Mawella Bay instantly captured the imagination. A rare encounter with a peahen calmly tending her eggs felt like a blessing and premonition – a moment of stillness and trust that would later define the spirit of this property.
Today, the peacocks still call Monara home. Their presence – graceful, wild and unhurried – sets the tone for life here: slow, natural and deeply connected to the land.
Over 25 years ago, the family owners, drawn to Sri Lanka’s southern coast, discovered the quiet village of Seenimodara and were captivated by its unspoiled beaches, swaying coconut groves, and the gentle rhythm of daily life. They envisioned a place where they could create a home in harmony with nature rather than being dictated by it.
Every corner of Monara today — from its light-filled bedrooms to its open terraces and private pool — reflects this philosophy. It is a home, not a hotel: a haven where guests can step away from their schedules and screens, reconnect with themselves, and simply breathe.
The villa is named after the peacock, “Monara” in Sinhalese, a symbol of beauty, grace, and unhurried elegance — qualities which are woven into every experience here. We hope that everyone who finds their way here leaves Monara feeling renewed, reinvented and with a deep sense of wellbeing. Above all, we hope that you will return.
We take our impact on the planet very seriously and, as a sustainable and regenerative business, strive to go beyond reducing harm to actively restoring, improving and strengthening natural ecosystems.
We aim to treat our local environment and community with care, and to avoid depleting natural resources as much as possible.
Sri Lanka, like many South Asian nations, is often challenged to produce enough power for their population. They are highly dependent on a combination of hydro-electric power and imported oil and gas. At Monara, we have installed thirty-six 20kw solar panels on the roof of the main building, generating between 2,500 to 3,000 kilowatts per month, depending on the season. This solar power is exported to the grid to help top up the energy supply in the local area. We are an excess producer of energy overall and our usage rarely exceeds our output.
We ask all guests to join us in our quest to use electricity considerately and to conserve energy in any way that we can.
Sri Lanka is a tropical country with two monsoons either side of the summer season (May/June and Oct/Nov). At Monara, heavy rain during these periods is collected in underground tanks and recycled as irrigation for the garden and plants, and we continue to explore new ways to conserve water.
At Monara, we are well on the way to eliminating single-use plastics. We do not use mini toiletries, and all bathrooms are fitted with refillable dispensers.
Our drinking water is filtered and purified using an on-site refill station. We use refillable glass bottles to serve all drinking water and it is provided free of charge. We do not sell imported drinking water because of the carbon footprint, but delicious still and sparkling Sri Lankan mineral water is available for sale on request.
Our cleaning products and complimentary in-room toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hand wash, are all environmentally friendly and produced using certified Ayurvedic methods. They are chemical and preservative free and designed not to contaminate the groundwater. We have chosen Aloe Vera and Sandalwood as our natural ingredients, both of which are grown plentifully in Sri Lanka.
We are passionate about serving fresh, tasty, seasonal food and aim to source nearly 100% of the fresh ingredients used in our menus from nearby farmers and local organic producers, thereby cutting down high fuel consumption, unnecessary transportation and emissions.
We are committed to hiring local staff and training them to provide the highest levels of service. We aim to pay above-average wages, encourage contribution to an in-house medical fund and pass on 100% of the service charge to our employees.
Our mission is to eliminate waste and pollution by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. We have refurbished our antiques or designed all of our furniture from reclaimed Sri Lankan hardwoods or recycled plastic weave. We upcycle all of our old linens and towels into cleaning cloths and re-use most of our plastic as containers, diverting as much as possible from landfills and minimising the need for raw materials.
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