The Notary’s House is a delightful six-bedroom boutique hotel around 45 minutes from Colombo Airport. It is situated in a blissfully tranquil patch of countryside, on the edge of a lake, near the village of Pannala. Whether staying here on the first or the last night of your holiday, guests will find this a relaxing base with a lounge area inside the house, and a large garden with a dining pavilion and swimming pool. The rooms are simply decorated, but air-conditioned and spacious and the food is terrific.