Grand Oriental Hotel — Hotel in Colombo

Dear Grand Oriental Hotel Team, We hope this message finds you well. it has been almost two months since our wedding at your venue on December 7th, 2023. We want to provide feedback on our experience.

Firstly, Thank you to Pramuditha and Achala, who were instrumental in our pre-wedding preparations. Despite Pramuditha being relatively new to the job, he displayed excellent communication skills and responsiveness throughout the pre-wedding period. Achala's silent and humble assistance was greatly appreciated. It's important to note that any issues we encountered are not reflective of their efforts.

However, sadly to our surprise, on the day of the wedding without the intervention of our very own main coordinator nothing would have been done. Even we as the couple , we started our big day early that morning without our changing rooms being ready where we had to wait at the lobby for almost 30 minutes just to walk into rooms that were to our dismay! What started with the rooms not being ready proceeded to everything else not being ready making a beautiful day super stressful. But again, Thanks to our main coordinator and the rest of our friends' intervention, they made sure to get things done.

We understand that changes in management occurred, with Sheron and Mr. Srikanth departing (we would not have even booked GOH for our wedding if it wasn't for Sheron and her exceptional skills in marketing, its sad she had to leave). On the wedding day, we observed challenges that seemed to stem from these transitions. Unfortunately, a bald-headed gentleman (no idea what his name is even) whom we believe is a senior hand in the hotel disrupted the proceedings and hindered previously discussed duties effectively (we had never met him once before the wedding). We believe there might have been other senior staff members as well who contributed to the service issues.

The only positive side, the food was exceptional, earning a well-deserved 5-star rating. However, the service was a significant disappointment. Communication gaps were evident from the reception to the top management, impacting various aspects of our wedding. Despite our own coordination for decorations and DJ, certain services we paid for, such as trolley service, were not delivered as promised. Rooms were not ready on time, and there were issues with cleanliness, water pressure, towels, and reception demands for already paid amounts.

We faced challenges with the hall setup, missing welcome drinks, cakes, liquor, bites (all three provided by us early that morning) and technical equipment like the projector and champagne fountain. Thanks to our coordinators, the day was salvaged, but it was disheartening that we had to intervene to ensure everything went according to plan.

The overall experience fell short of our expectations well deserving nothing more than a 0 star rating.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. It's not only about catering to the international tourists visiting the hotel but also the locals who pay significant amounts from their hard-earned money, earned through sweat and blood, for a wedding that happens once in a lifetime. We sincerely hope that the Grand Oriental Hotel will address these service issues to provide memorable experiences for future guests.

P.S. we were shown that one of our Family members had left a good review in one of the comments sheets.

Well.... we are the couple and along with our friends who helped with the planning and coordination we only know the service provided. So according to that this our feedback!

And yes according the review made on paper, no doubt the package was good (introduced by Sheron). The service before the wedding was also good indeed (as mentioned in our feedback as well). But, the service on the day of the wedding was terrible except for the quality of the food (as mentioned).

We really hope hope GOH addresses the issues in the feedback and offer a better service for its valuable clients who will have weddings...

Grand Oriental Hotel or GOH (also previously known as the Taprobane Hotel) is a 3 star heritage hotel, located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The GOH began to prosper from the beginning and many wanted shares in the hotel. This prompted the management to sell 500 shares before the opening and later another 500 were also sold on the day of the opening.8]

The hotel had its own landscaped tropical garden, which was illuminated at night with coloured lights,[9] together with a resident orchestra, which performed twice daily, and held special concerts on Wednesdays and Sundays.[10]

The hotel went thorough a refurbishment program in 1920 where on-suite bathrooms were introduced. In 1940 though still under the British management the colonial only tag started to change and locals too were seen dining and even hosting weddings in the hotel.

In the early 1950s the communal violence and political situation in the country combined with a series of strikes in the hotel[11] prompted the Dutch Burgher proprietor, Sam De Vos to sell the property. The Bank of Ceylon bought the Grand Oriental Hotel in 1954 for Rs. 625,000[12] and subsequently in 1955 leased it to Managing Director of Ceylon Hotels, P. A. Ediriweera.[13]

However he was replaced on a court order in 1960 and the hotel had no official management for nearly two years during which time the employees faced tremendous hardships. In 1963 the Bank of Ceylon with the assistance of the then Minister of Finance, T. B. Ilangaratne, and Minister of Labour, D. S. Goonesekera, once again took over the management.[12]

Taprobane Hotel - 1980

The company name was changed from Colombo Hotels Company to Hotels Colombo Ltd. However, due to legal constraints the Bank of Ceylon could not use the name Grand Oriental Hotel and they renamed the hotel as the Taprobane Hotel.[8] Sir Richard Aluwihare was appointed the company's chairman and the bank spending Rs. 736,036.90 on urgent repairs.[8]

During this period the hotel went through major changes with the bank taking over a section of the hotel. The hotel was reduced to 54 rooms and the garden too disappeared. A part of the hotel including the large dining room was given to the Bank of Ceylon. In 1966 Geoffrey Bawa was appointed to remodel the hotel, creating the Harbour Room, a restaurant on the fourth floor directly overlooking the Colombo Harbour. During this period the hotel's original was restored and the country's first night club, the Blue Leopard,[8] located in the basement of the hotel opened.[14 The total cost of the refurbishment was approximately Rs. 1.9 million.16] In 1989 the hotel reverted to its original name, the Grand Oriental Hotel, re-opening in June 1991.[17]

In 2000 the Bank of Ceylon undertook a major refurbishment of the hotel at a cost of around Rs. 4 million.[8]

In November 2010 the Bank of Ceylon advertised for expressions of interest for a management partner in the hotel, with a number of local companies, including John Keells Holdings, Aitken Spence and Cargills Ceylon, together with international companies, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Royal Orchid Hotels responding.[18 In 2012 BoC shelved plans for any refurbishment or joint management[20]

In May 2016 the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena, requested the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development issue bids for sale of the Grand...

I recently had the opportunity to stay at the Grand Oriental Hotel, and my experience was a journey through history, elegance, and warm Sri Lankan hospitality. Located in the heart of Colombo, this hotel is one of the oldest in the country, dating back to the 19th century, and it truly lives up to its heritage charm.

The architecture and ambience of the Grand Oriental Hotel immediately transport you to a different era. From the grand lobby with its colonial-era charm to the antique decor in the corridors and rooms, every corner reflects a story of the past. While the hotel is certainly not modern in terms of flashy amenities, its vintage appeal is what makes it unique. It's perfect for travelers who appreciate history and prefer a culturally rich environment over commercial uniformity.

The room I stayed in was spacious, clean, and well-maintained, though the furniture and fixtures were clearly aged. However, everything worked perfectly fine — air conditioning was efficient, water pressure in the shower was strong, and the bed was very comfortable. Some may consider the décor slightly outdated, but again, it’s part of the hotel’s character and historical value.

One of the highlights of my stay was the service. The staff was extremely courteous, helpful, and attentive. From the front desk to the room service team, everyone made a genuine effort to ensure guests were comfortable. I had a few requests during my stay, and each one was met promptly and with a smile.

The location of the Grand Oriental Hotel is another huge advantage. It sits right near the Colombo harbor, with some rooms offering beautiful views of the port. It’s also close to many major landmarks, shops, and restaurants, making it easy to explore the city on foot or by tuk-tuk. I took a short walk to Pettah Market and the Dutch Hospital shopping precinct — both worth a visit.

The restaurant on the top floor, Harbour Room, offers a stunning view of the port and serves delicious Sri Lankan cuisine. I enjoyed the traditional rice and curry, which was flavorful and authentically prepared. The breakfast buffet, though limited in variety, had good quality items and fresh fruits.

On the downside, the hotel could use some renovation in certain areas. The elevators are old and slow, and some parts of the building feel worn out. However, considering the price point — which is quite affordable for such a centrally located heritage hotel — it’s easy to overlook these minor inconveniences.

Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a modern, luxury hotel with the latest tech and polished interiors, this might not be the place for you. But if you appreciate colonial-era architecture, a charming old-world vibe, and friendly service at a budget-friendly rate, the Grand Oriental Hotel is a wonderful choice. It offers a rare opportunity to experience a slice of Colombo’s rich colonial past while enjoying genuine Sri Lankan...