Mikayla Resort Chilaw’s pride

 It is one of the few towns in all of Sri Lanka to be known by three names; ‘Halãvata’ in Sinhala, ‘Cilãpam’ in Tamil and of course ‘Chilaw’ in English. 

The room rates for Mikayla Resort ranges from Rs 10,000/- (Room Only) to Rs 30,000/- 
(Deluxe FBD)  

Chilaw in North Western Province is known for its wide, beautiful and unblemished beaches, diverse cultural heritage and multi religious sites; where travellers can visit a number of attractions. It is one of the few towns in all of Sri Lanka to be known by three names; ‘Halãvata’ in Sinhala, ‘Cilãpam’ in Tamil and of course ‘Chilaw’ in English. Also some travel guides introduce Chilaw as the city famous for its three C’s - Coconuts, Crabs and Coreas.

However after the pandemic  Chilaw has been elevated to a destination level not only with the domestic travellers, but with foreign tourists, who love exquisite beaches and lip smacking sea food preparations.
The newest addition to the city’s accommodation folder is Mikayla Resort, a hotel in the heart of Chilaw city. Chilaw is famous for its beaches and no one can ignore the taste of its seafood specialities. The wide coastal resources have generously enriched Mikayla Resort with all the sea food fantasies any traveller can imagine.
Located just a few metres off the main Negombo Road, Mikayla Resort, is known for its splendour and its many facilities in the area. It is one of the most modern and newly constructed resorts consisting 12 luxury rooms, large banquet facility, beautiful roof top Sky Lounge, restaurant/bar and private dining facilities. The Resort boasts of twelve luxury deluxe rooms overlooking the city limit with a view of the adjoining newly cultivated organic vegetation.   

All rooms at the Mikayla Resort are equipped with modern amenities including private balcony, tea/coffee making facilities, LED cable TV, A/C and contemporary en suite bathroom.
‘All our rooms are designed to keep utmost privacy and tranquility and are meant for honeymooners. Also it is popular with families and long staying guests’ said Sujeewa Wijethunga, the General Manager of the Resort. The main attraction of Mikayla Resort is the masterfully constructed modern banquet hall, which can accommodate 350 guests. The two conference facilities on the first floor can accommodate 80 and 40 pax respectively, equipped with all MICE facilities. The most popular Sky Lounge can accommodate 100pax on small scale family functions, weddings, home comings, private gigs and corporate meetings.
Mikayla Resort ensures the exclusive use of the Sky Lounge for special functions. 
‘The Sky Lounge is our main focal point. The roof top garden with an artificial grass floor, permanent ‘head table’ structure and the bandstand, indoor restaurant and bar with private dining area gives an edge over the rest of the locations around the city limits’ Sujeewa explained.
‘Apart from banquet facilities and accommodation, our main attraction is cuisine’ he added.
Dining at Mikayla Resort has been made interesting with the Sky Lounge especially creating a soothing atmosphere with a mesmerising night view under the stars after dark. From fresh seafood to Sri Lankan delicacies and a range of beverages and desserts, cuisine at Mikayla Resort is a gastronomic paradise.
 ‘We are always ready to cater to the needs of our guests. We offer international cuisine and Sri Lankan fusion style culinary experiments to our guests. But our speciality is the fresh catch from the sea. Fresh sea food from the nearby beach is always popular and we are ready to cook it in any way that guests want. Prawns from the lagoon are very popular’ explained Executive Chef A. I. Suranjith.  Apart from the international cuisine, beverage menus with a wide range of fresh juices and an eclectic mix of cocktails are available at the Resort.  Mikayla Resort looks forward to serving great cuisine, while guests enjoy the day exploring the wonders of Chilaw. Many leisure and business travellers find Mikayla Resort to be the ideal location for business outings, family vacations and romantic getaways’ said GM Wijethunga.

The hotel is located in close proximity to several tourist attractions. Situated en route to the Cultural Triangle, Mikayla Resort is a mere ten kms away from the Anavilundawa Bird Sanctuary, one of Sri Lanka’s Ramsar wetland sites. Pambala Mangrove Museum and Leisure Centre, the only Mangrove education centre in the country is just 20 minutes away. 
The Munneswaram Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in Chilaw. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and attracts both local devotees and tourists. Chilaw is a Catholic diocesan town. Although the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has a history of more than two centuries, the building is modern and in Sri Lanka’s typical historicizing style of 
church architecture.
The hotel also organises excursions to other attractions, notable among which are Wilpattu National Park,  dolphin and whale watching in Kalpitiya Sea and lagoon, Muneswaran and St Anne’s Thalawila and Muthurajawela wetlands.
Adventurous boat rides in the Chilaw lagoon through Deduru Oya to the other side is one of the best rides to have a glimpse of the real rural fishing lifestyle of the villagers. Chilaw Sandpits and the river mouth of Deduru Oya is just five kms further north and are Chilaw’s main attractions. Mikayla Resort is managed by the Board of Directors headed by D P S Sudith Peiris (MD), Christine Peiris (Director) and Sahan Peiris (Director).

 Pix by Shan 
Bandu Weerasinghe