Here are highly recommended boutique villas and small private villas near Colombo, grouped by how you’re likely to use them (city base, airport/Negombo access, or beach escape). Short notes include why each is special and roughly how far/time from central Colombo or the airport. I’ve cited each listing so you can check availability and exact rates.

City — private-villa / small boutique options inside Colombo

• ISHQ Colombo — a fully staffed, design-led private villa in a quiet leafy Colombo neighborhood (pool, rooftop jacuzzi, private chef). Great if you want a villa feel while staying in the city. (City location / excellent for sightseeing & dining in Colombo). (ishqvillas.com)
• Nyne Hotels — Lake Lodge (Colombo) — a small, heritage boutique property on Beira Lake with a calm garden setting and intimate rooms; feels like a private urban retreat. Good for couples or short city stays. (nynehotels.com)
• Austin Manor Colombo — tiny luxury guesthouse/“manor” with a very personal service style and curated interiors; convenient central location. (srilankanselect.com)

Airport / Negombo area — convenient for short stays or early/late flights

• Olcote in Ceylon — restored colonial private villa available for exclusive hire, short drive from Bandaranaike International Airport (full-staffed, private chef, ideal for groups & events). Good if you want privacy and airport convenience. (olcoteinceylon.com)
• Negombo Boutique Villa / Negombo private villas — a number of boutique/private villas and small boutique hotels line Negombo (15–30 min from the airport), useful for beach + airport stays. Check individual villa pages for pool / staff details. (boutiquevilla.hotelsnegombo.com)

South-west coast beach villas (1–2 hours from Colombo) — best for beach getaways while still close to the city

• Paradise Road — The Villa (Bentota) — historic “Mohotti Walauwa” converted into a stylish boutique villa-hotel on 2 acres with beach access; roughly 1–1.5 hours south of Colombo. Classic boutique design, gardens and pools. (mrporter.com)
• Villa 700 (Induruwa / Bentota area) — modern beachfront boutique villa with private pool and direct beach access; family-friendly and well-reviewed, about an hour–90 minutes from Colombo depending on traffic. (boutiquecollectionbyamaya.com)
• Villa Maggona (Maggona / near Galle) — architecturally pleasing beachfront villa within ~1–1.5 hours of the Colombo region (depending on exact start point); good for groups who want design + beach access. (villamaggona.com)

Quick practical tips

• Drive times: Colombo → Bentota / Induruwa is typically around 1–1.5 hours by car (traffic-dependent); Negombo is ~25–35 minutes from Bandaranaike Airport. Check current traffic when you book. (Individual listings cite local distances; Rome2Rio / booking pages give route times). (rome2rio.com)
• Seasonality: the southwest coast (Bentota, Galle, Colombo beaches) has its best beach weather in the dry season (roughly December–April). If you plan a beach stay, those months give the most reliable sun; May–September brings the southwest monsoon. (scottdunn.com)
• Booking: villas often sell out for holidays/peak season; for groups or buyouts contact the villa directly (many offer private-chef and transfer packages) and compare direct rates vs. villa-specialist sites.

If you want, I can:

• narrow this to the top 3 by purpose (city, airport, beach), or
• pull current availability/prices for 2–3 dates you’re considering.

(If you prefer I’ll just give direct booking links or phone numbers for any of the properties above.)