What happened when the Governer of Ceylon, Sir Maitland, fell in love with a local Mestizo dancer named Lovina Aponsuwa? He named his residence after her, Mount Lavinia. Or so the story goes behind the name of this coastal suburb, which in turn was named after the Governer's residence. Today, the stately home is a colonial-style hotel, unsurprisingly named the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The beach town is one that calls for long walks on the water's edge, a swim in the ocean, relaxing on a hammock while sipping a cocktail, biting into sea-food or the catch of the day, indulgent massages and Ayurvedic spa treatments, and a general air of hedonism. The town has a bustling night life and is also one of the most liberal parts of Sri Lanka as it plays host to the annual Gay Parade.