Here are widely recommended / frequently booked hotels across Sri Lanka (grouped by region). Each item includes a short reason visitors choose it and a source.

Colombo & coast

• Galle Face Hotel (Colombo) — historic, oceanfront landmark hotel popular with first‑time visitors to Colombo. (srilankatourismalliance.com)
• Shangri‑La, Colombo — large, modern luxury city hotel with ocean and Port City views; common choice for business and city stays. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Cinnamon Grand (Colombo) — long‑standing luxury hotel near Galle Road/Galle Face Green, popular for dining and transfers. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Mount Lavinia Hotel (Mount Lavinia) — classic beachfront colonial hotel close to Colombo, often chosen for its legacy and sunset views. (en.wikipedia.org)

South coast & Galle area

• Cape Weligama (near Galle) — cliff‑top luxury resort with villas and dramatic sea views; very popular for southern‑coast stays. (resplendentceylon.com)
• Amanwella (Tangalle) — intimate, high‑end beach resort favored for privacy and design‑led suites. (cntraveller.com)
• The Fortress Resort & Spa (Koggala/Galle) — stylish boutique resort on the south coast, popular for beach stays and proximity to Galle Fort. (guide.michelin.com)

Wildlife, eco and hill country

• Wild Coast Tented Lodge (Yala area) — luxury tented lodge at the edge of Yala National Park, very popular for safari + beach combinations. (cntraveler.com)
• Ceylon Tea Trails (Hill Country) — restored plantation bungalows in tea country (luxury/romantic choice for hill‑country stays). (resplendentceylon.com)
• Heritance Kandalama (near Dambulla / Sigiriya) — Geoffrey Bawa–inspired eco/architectural hotel in the Cultural Triangle, a favorite for culture + nature. (traveltalkasia.com)
• Jetwing Vil Uyana (Sigiriya area) — award‑winning eco lodge built on wetlands, popular with nature and birdwatching visitors. (en.wikipedia.org)

Galle Fort / Boutique stays

• Amangalla (Galle Fort) — heritage luxury hotel inside Galle Fort, chosen for history and location within the UNESCO Fort. (en.wikipedia.org)

Notes

• “Most popular” depends on region and traveler type: Colombo/airport transits, the south coast for beaches/surf, Yala/Udawalawe for safaris, and the Hill Country (Nuwara Eliya/Tea Country) for cooler scenery and tea estates. The hotels above are repeatedly cited in travel awards, Condé Nast/guide coverage, and major booking/review sites. (srilankatourismalliance.com)

If you’d like, I can narrow this to a short list by budget, travel dates, or the specific region you plan to visit — or give quick booking/timing tips for any of the properties listed.