Hi, Only been to Sri Lanka once that was February this year, we travelled around but did stay in Negombo for the one night and people sat by the pool looking over the beach. There is a lot of beach sellers on the beach who hassle quite a lot and they are not allowed onto the hotels gardens as security guards patrol. The sea in Sri Lanka is rough and quite dangerous we did walk down the beach and go for a swim but there was a strong current. No chairs were provided on the beaches anywhere we stayed. We did stay in other beach areas but not Bentota and they all were the same chairs in the gardens overlooking beaches, with people strolling down for a swim and a walk, and plenty of beach sellers.

Thank you for that, it's quite a shame really as well as sitting by the pool I do like to be able to go to the beach.

If you're after beach life, I'd be more inclined to spend some days in Unawatuna/Hikkaduwa.