The Mount Lavinia Hotel was originally built in 1806
After falling into disrepair, Mount Lavinia House was rebuilt in 1830 by the British Governor Edward Barnes at a cost of 30,000 pounds. It was designed along the lines of "Banqueting Palace" in Whitehall, London designed by the architect Inigo Jones. Like an Italian villa, the house had a coach house, and military barracks and quarters.