Great — here are top family-friendly hotels in Sri Lanka, organized by region with a short note on why each is good for families, typical family-friendly facilities, and a quick tip. I’ve included sources for the most important claims.

Colombo (arrival / city stay)

• Cinnamon Grand Colombo — large rooms and suites, kid-friendly dining, central location for short airport transfer and city sightseeing. Good for a first/last night. (popular large-city family option)
• Shangri‑La / Galle Face Hotel — both offer sea views, family rooms and pools; close to Colombo attractions.

Southern coast (Galle, Weligama, Bentota) — great for beaches and whale-watching

• Cape Weligama (Weligama) — luxury villa-style resort with family suites, a kids’ club (Forest School), multiple pools and activities (snorkeling, boat trips, whale watching). Excellent for families wanting beach + activities. (i-escape.com)
• Jetwing Lighthouse / Jetwing Lighthouse Club (near Galle) — large resort with kiddies’ pool, family rooms, babysitting on request, pools and plenty of excursions (Galle Fort, whale watching). Architecturally interesting and family-oriented facilities. (jetwinghotels.com)
• Cinnamon Bey or Avani Bentota (Bentota) — family-friendly beach resorts with water sports and pools (good if you want a shorter drive from Colombo).

Cultural Triangle (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa) — for wildlife, temples, gentle safaris

• Heritance Kandalama (Dambulla / Sigiriya area) — eco-designed hotel built into the rockscape; offers family/interconnecting rooms, extra beds and babysitting; excellent base for Sigiriya rock, Minneriya elephant safaris and temple visits. Good balance of comfort and nature. (heritancehotels.com)
• Water Garden Sigiriya / Cinnamon Lodge Habarana — family rooms, pools and easy access to cultural sites and safaris.

Hill Country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella) — tea-country, cooler climate, train rides

• 98 Acres Resort & Spa (Ella) — family suites, nature walks and beautiful views; peaceful for families who want hiking and train trips.
• Heritance Tea Factory or Grand Hotel (Nuwara Eliya) — historic hotels with large rooms, gardens and cool climate; good for kids who love trains and open lawns.

East Coast (Trincomalee, Nilaveli) — quieter beaches, snorkeling

• Uga Bay / Jungle Beach (Trincomalee) — small boutique resorts with family rooms, calm bays for snorkeling, and easy access to Pigeon Island — good for younger kids and low-key beach time. (jetwinghotels.com)

Why these are good for families (summary)

• Pools (including kids’ pools), kids’ clubs or supervised activities (Cape Weligama, many Jetwing properties). (i-escape.com)
• Babysitting and interconnecting/family rooms are commonly available (Heritance Kandalama, Jetwing Lighthouse). (heritancehotels.com)
• Easy access to family-friendly excursions: whale/dolphin trips (south coast), elephant safaris (Cultural Triangle), gentle train rides (Hill Country). (i-escape.com)

Quick planning tips

• Divide trip by region (max 2–3 bases) to avoid long daily drives — e.g., Colombo → Southern Coast (Galle/Weligama) → Cultural Triangle or Hill Country.
• Book family rooms or interconnecting rooms in advance (they’re limited in top resorts).
• Check hotel babysitting/kids’ club policies and age ranges before booking.
• If traveling with young kids, favor hotels with shallow kids’ pools and easy beach access.
• Peak season: December–March (south/west coasts) and May–September (east coast). Book early for holidays.

If you’d like, I can:

• Narrow this to a 7–10 day family itinerary with hotel suggestions by night and travel times, or
• Pull up current room rates/availability for specific dates you’re considering.

Which would you prefer?