" From 20 December, Christmas music fills the resort and the festive atmosphere begins to build. Over the following days, guests can enjoy sunset yoga, Christmas carols, cooking experiences, seafood, international cuisine, live music and relaxed days beside the pool."
A Christmas Tradition We Share
One of the most special moments of Christmas at Sooriya takes place on 23 December, when we welcome the choir from a local rural church.
For the past eight years, this has become a much-loved Sooriya tradition. The children of the choir particularly look forward to their visit, while our guests enjoy hearing a wonderful mixture of traditional Christmas carols and locally sung Christmas songs.
It is a simple but meaningful celebration that brings our guests and the local community together.
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
Christmas Eve begins with cocktails and canapés before the evening builds towards our Christmas Eve Gala Dinner & Dance, with festive food, music and entertainment. Santa also makes a special appearance for our younger guests.
Christmas Day is a more relaxed celebration, beginning with an extended Christmas breakfast and brunch, followed by a traditional Christmas lunch and an evening BBQ with live music.
The days that follow continue the festive spirit with South Asian flavours, chef-led cooking experiences, international cuisine, seafood and relaxed evenings by the pool.
Welcoming 2027
New Year's Eve is the highlight of the celebrations.
Guests can enjoy New Year's Punch, Champagne and wine before experiencing a traditional Sri Lankan cultural performance, including fire-limbo.
The evening continues with music, dancing and our New Year's Eve Gala Dinner, followed by the Lucky Room Number Draw, Best Dancing Couple and Sooriya Star of the Night.
Then comes the countdown to midnight, when we welcome 2027 with fireworks over the sea.
Others elect to welcome the new year in the pool - see our YouTube Channel if you want to see them having fun - https://youtube.com/shorts/gO2Jh3czl9s
A Traditional Sri Lankan New Year
The traditional celebrations continue early morning on 1st January with something different that is done without much fanfare.
At 7.00 AM, we gather for the traditional boiling of milk (Kiri Ithirima). Practised in Sri Lankan homes for generations, the overflowing milk symbolises prosperity, abundance and good fortune for the year ahead.
We will follow this with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp, where Sooriya staff and management can be joined by our guests if they are awake at that time of the day! The lamp symbolises dispelling darkness and welcoming peace, positivity and light into the New Year.
The morning follows up with the New Year breakfast featuring traditional Sri Lankan dishes, including milk rice (Kiribath) and Sri Lankan sweets.
For guests wants to observe the early morning brief ceremonies, it will be performed at the front of the hotel by the lobby. It may be a wonderful opportunity to discover a little more of the Sri Lanka beyond the beaches and sunshine.
Your Festive Season at Sooriya
Christmas and New Year at Sooriya are about relaxation, good food, great company and beautiful memories.
Come for the celebrations, stay for the sea and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Sooriya as we move from Christmas into a new year.
Full Festive Programme
See our complete Christmas & New Year programme below for all dates, times and activities.
