Boutique Sri Lankan group Uga Resorts will open its eighth property, Uga Ghiri, in July 2026 — an all-inclusive, 15-villa retreat in the town of Ella. Set on the historic Sutherland Estate across 10 acres of terraced hillside, the property looks out over tea plantations, rolling hills and the Nine Arch Bridge.
At its center is a restored colonial-era manor serving as the main house, with a library and a drawing room. The 15 standalone villas, with interiors by Yasasi Hettiarachchi of YH Interior Design Studio, each span 1,200 square feet, with a bedroom, separate living area and en-suite bathroom, plus a private hot tub and outdoor deck framing the surrounding landscape.
Dining unfolds in the manor's indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar, an elevated all-inclusive offering drawing on Sri Lankan and international flavors. A 49-foot infinity pool and a pool bar overlook the valley, while the spa is rooted in Balinese wellness traditions, with two treatment rooms, a sauna and a steam room.
Activities range across the surrounding hill country, from a tea-picking-to-cup experience and Ceylon arrack tasting to a market-to-table cooking class, cycling through the tea estates, and visits to rock-carved Buddhas at nearby temples. The property also runs a "Rewild the Hills" conservation program, with guests contributing to biodiversity documentation and habitat restoration, including a butterfly and dragonfly breeding initiative.
Ella sits within reach of Little Adam's Peak, Ella Rock and Ravana Falls, and is accessible by the scenic train route from Kandy or by mountain road. Uga Ghiri joins the group's existing properties across Sri Lanka, including Uga Chena Huts in Yala and Uga Ulagalla in Anuradhapura.