Saman Villas is located in the fishing village of Aturuwella, near the south west coastal town of Bentota, Sri Lanka.

[2][3] The hotel consists of 27 suites for guest accommodation set out in two-storey villas, some equipped with private pools,[2] a restaurant, bar, sunset lounge, an infinity pool, library, snooker table, a jewellery shop, gym, sauna, hot tub, spa[4] and boardroom facilities that can house up to 12 people.

However, in the early 1990s the new concept of boutique hotels was slowly evolving and taking root in some Asian countries and islands in the Pacific Ocean.

This led the developer, Daya Ratnayake[5] (the owner of the Mermaid Hotel in Kalutara), after viewing examples in Koh Samui, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia, together with the appointed architect, Geevaka De Soyza,[6] to develop the first boutique hotel in Sri Lanka.

[1] The hotel's name is derived from a native jasmine, saman pichcha, a fragrant flower used in floral offerings and garlands in Buddhist temples.