On 28 December 2014 my mother, aunt, cousin and I spent our first night in superb Sri Lanka in the homely and welcoming environment of Suriya Arana. Judith and Saman made us feel immediately welcome and as though we were part of Sri Lankan family. The upstairs/downstairs family room was clean, comfortable and suited our needs. The outdoor patio and area by the pool are lovely places to relax, enjoy tea, write your travel diary and plan your Sri Lankan adventure. The pool is the perfect place to cool off! Saman and Judith can arrange tours of the country for you and provide you with much assistance for your travel plans. They are very generous with their time and spirit and nothing is too much trouble for them. Negombo is a terrific location to begin ones exploration of Sri Lanka. It is located an easy drive north of the international airport and is a vibrant and tropical introduction to this island paradise. Negombo is known locally as “Little Roma” as it has 55 churches of beautiful Portugese colonial architecture. In one block you may find a Catholic church, a Buddhist temple and an Islamic mosque. A bicycle or tuk tuk ride around this special, peaceful melting pot is highly recommended. Your camera will be busy!! Suriya Arana is just an easy stroll from the hub bub of the tourist strip which has lots of charm. As Judith and Saman show such sincere regard for their guests I felt a special connection with them. I returned twice on my own during my time exploring Sri Lanka so Suriya Arana became a home away from home. I was later travelling alone as a single woman and felt ever so safe and secure in their premises. Judith and Saman have hearts of gold and their strength, courage and determination to strive for their dreams with the memory of their precious son at the forefront of their minds is inspiring. They and the tragic loss of their son deeply touched my family’s soul. The young Tamil men in their charge are being groomed for life in the hospitality industry, providing them with the skills for future and progressive employment. Hopefully they are practising the English phrases I wrote down for them! I will always return to Suriya Arana on my travels to Sri Lanka. Judith and Saman have many, many repeat guests who have become friends! Judith often collects clothing for the underprivileged children in the area so should you have any unwanted children’s clothes or small adult sized clothing please pack it and bring it to Judith so you can be sure the preloved clothes go to worthy families. Toys and picture books are also welcome! To start your special Sri Lankan adventure on a high, I highly recommend you begin here at Suriya Arana.