Great — here’s a curated list of highly regarded boutique villas and small villa-style properties across Sri Lanka, grouped by region with a short note on what makes each special. I’ve included a quick planning tip at the end (seasonality and booking). All entries include sources you can check for photos, rates and availability.

South coast (Mirissa / Weligama / Tangalle / Galle area)

• Kadju House (Tangalle) — architect-designed, minimal/modern beach villa with an infinity pool, Ayurvedic spa and a private, quiet beach setting; often appears on “best beach villas” lists. (kadjuhouse.com)
• Villa Shala (south coast) — large, stylish private villa for groups with pool, cinema and full staff; popular with families and groups wanting a beachfront/base near Galle. (oliverstravels.com)
• Red Cliffs / Pradeep Jayewardene House (Mirissa) — a pavilion-style cliff-top house rebuilt by/associated with Geoffrey Bawa; dramatic sea views and strong architectural interest. (en.wikipedia.org)

Bentota / Bawa-related & design-led stays

• Lunuganga (Dedduwa/Bentota) — Geoffrey Bawa’s country estate converted into a small, iconic country-house boutique with individually styled suites set in extensive gardens (a must for architecture/design lovers). (teardrop-hotels.com)
• Saman Villas (Bentota/Aturuwella) — one of Sri Lanka’s original boutique properties (beachfront suites, private-pool options); a classic, well-established boutique-villa experience. (en.wikipedia.org)

Wildlife / safari & beach combo

• Chena Huts by Uga Escapes (Yala) — luxury “huts”/private cabins with plunge pools on the edge of Yala National Park (excellent for combining private-villa feel with safari drives). (ugaescapes.com)

Cultural Triangle / Central & hill-country options

• Diyabubula (Barberyn Art & Jungle Hideaway, near Dambulla) — small artistic/jungle hideaway composed of a few villas; highly regarded for artful design, tranquillity and proximity to the Cultural Triangle. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Ceylon Tea Trails (Nuwara Eliya / tea country) — not a single villa but a set of converted planters’ bungalows offering villa-like privacy in the hills (excellent for cool-climate, tea-estate stays). (brides.com)

Private-villa rentals (southern & west coast examples)

• Meda Gedara (Dikwella / large coastal villa) — large beachfront estate with waterslide/private staff — a high-end private-villa option often listed on curated luxury villa sites. (mrandmrssmith.com)
• Ishq Villa / Villa Serendipity / Villa Pooja Kanda (Galle / Talpe / Habaraduwa area) — examples of highly-rated private villas (stylish, fully staffed) frequently recommended in villa roundups for the Galle region. (theasiacollective.com)

Unique/private island / small-island villas

• Taprobane Island (Weligama) — an exclusive private-island villa (one house on a tiny island) — special and very private (iconic, limited availability). (en.wikipedia.org)

Quick planning tips

• Best regions by season: the south & west coast (Mirissa, Galle, Tangalle, Bentota) are driest and busiest December–April; the east coast (Arugam Bay, Trincomalee) is best roughly May–September. (Plan the coast you want around these windows.) (lonelyplanet.com)
• Book vetted/official channels: many of these are small, privately managed properties or single-villa rentals — book via the property’s official site or established luxury/travel agencies (Mr & Mrs Smith, Teardrop Hotels, respected villa specialists) to avoid surprises. (mrandmrssmith.com)
• What to check: staffing levels (chef/housekeeper), pool privacy, transfer time from Colombo or regional airports, and whether the villa handles safari/permit logistics if you plan Yala or cultural-triangle visits.

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow options by region, budget, or travel dates; or
• Pull availability/prices for any of the villas above for specific dates and give booking links.

(If you want me to check availability or current rates, tell me the dates and how many people — I’ll look them up and include direct sources.)