The Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa designed the Bentota Beach Hotel which was built between 1967 and 1969.

[1] It is the first resort hotel in Sri Lanka[2] and was built on the site where the old rest house stood.

[4] Laki Senanayake worked on the peacock culture of the hotel and Ismeth Raheem painted 14 black and white panels.

John Keells Holdings acquired Whittalls Group of Companies in 1991 giving them control of Ceylon Holiday Resorts.

In reconstruction, under the supervision of Channa Daswatte, the iconic ceiling by Ena de Silva at the entrance of the hotel will be remade.