Dine
Different
Our cuisine infuses Sri Lankan flavor into western dishes and reimagines rustic Sri Lankan food into gourmet dishes for a western palate. We cook without chilies so the food may be enjoyed by all.
Breakfast
8:00am - 10:00am
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Dining Room
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Dining Room Patio
Take-away breakfast available if ordered before 4:00pm
Lunch
12:00pm - 2:00pm
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Dining Room
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Dining Room Patio
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Private Deck
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Pool (Floating Tray)
Dinner
7:00pm - 8:30pm
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Dining Room
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
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Dining Barge
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Dining Locations
Dining Room
Dining Room Patio
Dining Barge
River Deck
Private Deck
Pool
Cultural Evening
120 USD for 2 people | 20 USD per person above 2
Meal
Our chefs prepare seminal dishes of Sri Lankan cuisine.
The meal includes soup, appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and dessert.
In its breadth and complexity, the meal resembles an Indonesia rijsttafel.
To learn more about Sri Lankan cooking, click HERE.
Setting
Crisp linen, a magnificent candelabra, and vintage silverware grace your table.
A ceremonial fan (sesath) and spear (patisthanya) provide a regal touch.
In the Kandyan Kingdom (Kanda Udarata), the ceremonial fan and spear were used to announce the status of people of high status (the Radala). The higher the number of woven rings on the fan, the higher the person’s status. Waterland’s fan has 7 rings, indicating that it is for a temple setting. It takes about 2 weeks to make a single sesath.
Waterland’s brass spearheads feature peacocks. Peacocks are symbols of purity and thus you often see peacock feathers used in rituals.
Service
To serve you, your steward wears the mul aduma of the Kandyan Kingdom (Kanda Udarata). The elaborate outfit is befitting of a god. Indeed, the outfit is modeled on the attire of the deity Dedimunda Deviyo.
The mul aduma dates to the early 18th century when an Indian princess married a Sri Lankan king. The embroidery is done in a Persian embroidery style known as Zardozi.
Traditionally, each piece is individually commissioned. To commission a piece, one had to go to the village of Hindagala and give the costumier 3 traditional gifts: betelnut (bulath), a deep-fried sweet (kawum), and milk rice (kiribath). After receiving these gifts, the costumier would then decide if the patron was worthy of the mul aundum.
Because of the huge amounts of material, extraordinary craftsmanship, and cost, it is rare for these outfits to be privately owned. Waterland was fortunate to acquire four outfits from the interior of the country.
Music and Dance
Traditional dance and music continue to be cornerstones of Sri Lankan society.
Enjoy a private performance that showcases traditional Sri Lankan music and dance. The award-winning performer has danced for dignitaries in both Sri Lanka and abroad including many heads of state.