Taprobane Island is a rocky private island with one villa, located just off the southern coast of Sri Lanka opposite the village of Weligama,. The island was named after the old Greek word for Sri Lanka. The island was previously owned by the Count de Maunay who, exiled from France, fell in love with Weligama Bay. It was he who had the villa built on this tiny island. Another previous owner was the American author and composer Paul Bowles. Other notable people who stayed on Taprobane include Dutch author Peter ten Hoopen, who spent a month there in 1984 during civil unrest on the mainland, as well as Australian performer Kylie Minogue, who composed a song about the island inspired by her stay titled "Taprobane (Extraordinary Day)," and Watercolours-"Dark Island" composed by Jason Kouchak.
With a staff of six to cater to your every need, the fantasy of this two and a half acre island can be enjoyed all to yourselves with no disruptions or disturbances, completely sealed from the outside world. Only accessible by wading through the slow-moving surf, the statuesque neo-Palladian mansion of Taprobane is surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens which enjoy 360 degree ocean views.
We booked the island for lunch and stayed there till 5:30pm when the tide was low enough to wading through.