Sri Lanka, an island country in the Indian Ocean is a great holiday destination, with endless beaches, friendly people, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, lush green tea plantations, fantastic food and much more. It is a wonderful place to enjoy a fun-filled holiday. Muslim visitors will definitely be able to find Muslim-friendly facilities in Sri Lanka. Prayer areas, mosques and Halal restaurants are spread across the island, however as it is a Buddhist country not all cities have Muslim-friendly facilities. Muslims visitors concerned about finding Muslim-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka need not worry as the island has a number of Crescentrated hotels in popular holiday destinations.
Two hotels in Sri Lanka have received a Crescentrating of 4, and this is the best rating received by a Sri Lankan hotel. The Galadari Hotel, which is situated in the heart of Colombo’s business district, is one of the hotels with a rating of 4. Although the hotel has not been certified by a Halal certification body, the hotel claims to serve Halal food. Guests should also be aware that some of the restaurants in the hotel do serve alcohol. Other Muslim-friendly services provided by the hotel includes a prayer time table and prayer mat provided on request and suhoor and ifthar meals can also be arranged during Ramadan, on request. Muslim tourists will also be able to find a number of Halal restaurants situated in close proximity to the hotel if they wish to dine out. The other hotel that has a rating of 4 is the beautiful Eden Resort and Spa. This hotel situated in Beruwala, in the south of Sri Lanka, is a 5 Star luxury hotel. Guests can enjoy a relaxing yet fun beach holiday at the Eden Resort and Spa. This hotel too states that the food served is Halal although it has not been certified Halal by a Halal certification body. Muslim guests should be aware that alcohol is served in the hotel restaurants. Other Muslim-friendly services provided by the hotel includes a space allocated for prayers, and on request Muslim guests will be provided with a prayer time table, list of nearby masjids, prayer mat and even suhoor and ifthar meals will be arranged if needed.
The rest of the Crescentrated hotels spread across Sri Lanka are all with a rating of 3. Cinnamon Lakeside, a 5 star hotel situated in Colombo is the only other Colombo hotel to have a Crescentrating. Ranked the best 5 star hotel by Sri Lanka tourism, the hotel has a Crescentrating of 3. Muslim guests need to make prior arrangements for Halal food as the restaurants at the hotel are not assured to be Halal. In addition to some of the usual Muslim-friendly services provided, the hotel also has separate spa facilities for males and females. Another destination popular among tourists is Kandy. Muslim visitors will be happy to know that there are 4 hotels that are Crescentrated in Kandy. Hotel Hilltop, Earl’s Regency Hotel, Cinnamon Citadel Kandy and Randholee Luxury Resort are hotels with a Crescentrating of 3. Aside from the usual prayer facilities provided on request to Muslim guests, some hotels also have Halal room service options. However Muslim guests need to make prior arrangements with the hotel if they require Halal food.
Nuwera Eliya a popular up country destination has 2 hotels which have a Crescentrating of 3. They are; Heritance Tea Factory and Jumeirah Grand Apartments. Avani Kalutara Resort and The Sands by Aitkin Spence Hotels in Kalutara, Chaaya Village Habarana and Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana, Avani Bentota Resort and Spa and Bentota Beach Hotel in Bentota are all hotels with a Crescentrating of 3. Muslims visiting Sri Lanka will also be able to find Crescentrated hotels in in Trincomalee - Chaya Blu, in Dambulla - Heritance Kandalama, in Ahungalla- Heritance Ahungalla and in Hikkaduwa -Chaaya Tranz. None of these hotels however assure the food in their restaurants are Halal. Prior requests need to be made for the hotel to provide Halal meal options. Muslim visitors also need to be aware that the restaurants at most of the hotels serve alcohol and some hotels may even house a bar within their premises.
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