Kalukanda House
SRI LANKA
Located in a lush tropical setting near Turtle Beach, Kalukanda House is a boutique four-bedroom property that embodies authentic Sri Lankan luxury with purposeful impact. Founded by British-Sri Lankan interior designer Dee Gibson, the villa features handmade four-poster beds, antique furnishings, and colonial architecture blended with modern amenities. Woven into the local fabric, their extensive sustainability approach includes environmental practices, using local ingredients and ethically sourced materials, alongside socio-economic initiatives with above-living-wage employment and profit-sharing for staff.
As co-founders of Women in Travel Collective, they create hospitality career pathways for Sri Lankan women. Kalukanda House contributes monthly to Their Future Today charity, of which Dee holds the role of Deputy Chair, working to end child institutionalisation in Sri Lanka, raising over £10,000 in recent years. Through their HERA Project X, they showcase female entrepreneurs, fostering cultural exchange between locals and travellers. Guests enjoy personalised experiences from cookery classes to surfing while participating in a circular economy that strengthens the community.