Grand Kalundawa Waterfront Resort

The setting and surroundings at Grand Kalundawa are beautiful, and the rooms were acceptable, but our stay was disappointing overall. We booked five rooms on a half-board basis for 14 people, and the property seemed understaffed, which affected service. There was no running water in the bathrooms when we arrived, so we had to ask staff to turn it on. The pool wasn't ready at check-in either. Dinner was the biggest problem. We had been told at booking it would be four courses, but at first were offered only three. Then we were told to choose one main dish for all 14 of us, including the children. The menu changed after we objected, but the options and portions were unclear and didn't suit a group dinner. The manager eventually suggested chicken pasta and fried rice. The pasta had no noticeable chicken and little flavor; the fried rice was only a bit better. Another group at the venue had a buffet and barbecue, but no such option was offered to us despite our group size. The next morning's buffet breakfast had a reasonable range, though the quality was average and even the tea wasn't up to standard. Service organization, communication, and food quality need improvement to meet guests' expectations.

The setting is stunning and the resort has potential, but the property is very outdated and needs attention from management to be a better holiday stay. The staff did their best to help, though towels listed in my booking weren't in the room until I asked. The food was below par. The chef said he could make anything, but most of what we requested was out of stock. We were told breakfast would be Sri Lankan and continental, but only Sri Lankan breakfast was served. After we asked, some sausages arrived later, and the eggs we requested never came.

The manager and staff were excellent and helped with everything we needed. We asked for a bonfire, and they had it beautifully set up by the river almost immediately. The rooms were clean and comfortable. Thanks to the team, we'll be back for sure. Highly recommend this place for a peaceful stay, and special thanks to the manager.

Our rooms were spacious and clean, and the staff were very friendly. Mr. Sanath Wijeratne, the resort's General Manager, was especially kind, pious, and helpful. From check-in through check-out, he took care of all the little things that made us comfortable.