An analogue to the Serendib Lounge for Business Class passengers, the Serenediva Lounge is SriLankan Airlines’ dedicated lounge for frequent flyers. Open 24 hours a day, it carves a section from the larger Serenediva transit hotel, also operated by the airline. It is a much smaller facility compared to the airline’s flagship lounge, being objectively worse than Serendib.

Lounge Access Requirements

The Serenediva Lounge welcomes passengers holding oneworld Emerald and Sapphire status departing or connecting on SriLankan or oneworld flights. Do refer to the oneworld website for specific details. In addition, passengers with a same-day reservation on SriLankan Airlines and oneworld First Class and Business Class flights are eligible for access. Passengers connecting to a oneworld flight from an international oneworld First Class and Business Class flight are also eligible for entry.

Location

Position yourself at the fork in the departure hall, where you’ll find a statue of Gautam Buddha. To the left, in the direction of immigration, you’ll see a pair of lifts. Take them up one floor to get to the airport’s lounge cluster. From the lift, you’ll find the entrance to Serenediva to the right of the Emirates Lounge at the end of the corridor.

Serenediva Lounge

The Serenediva Lounge shares an entrance with the larger Serenediva transit complex, which is composed of a hotel, spa, and business centre, in addition to the Palm Strip Lounge and Restaurant. After making your way past the entrance, you’ll be invited to use the Serenediva Lounge proper, located to the left of the main reception.

There is then a second reception at the actual Serenediva Lounge, where your credentials will be checked. Since I was flying Business Class on SriLankan Airlines, the friendly reception agent recommended that I use the much superior Serendib Lounge. Despite that, I was still welcomed in on account of my oneworld Sapphire membership with Cathay Pacific.

Seating

The Serendib Lounge is made up of a single square room, featuring several rows of armchair seating and a dining area. The space feels drab and uninviting; it features different shades of grey and beige everywhere, from the flooring, furniture, to the ceiling, brought together by a large mural on the wall depicting the various sights Sri Lanka has to offer. Irregular placements of decorative plastic grass give a splash of colour to the otherwise gloomy, windowless room.

Much of the seating comes in the form of grey faux leather armchairs, set in pairs, spread between three rows facing each other. Between each pair is a console table, which is at least equipped with a universal power outlet and USB-A port. Furthermore, there are also several blue armchairs on the opposite side, arranged facing each other.

In addition, I’ll also add that there are a couple of dining tables located next to the dining spread and bar. These marble-topped tables each feature four seats, and appear to be the most popular seating option in the lounge.

Dining

At the far end of the lounge, you’ll find the dining facility, composed of a relatively large, self-service buffet. Spread between two islands, the dining options include a variety of hot and cold food, as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Despite the stark setting and design of the Serenediva Lounge, I at least appreciated the choice of food offered in the lounge. In particular, the dishes on offer are basically the same as those you’d see in the Serendib Lounge. As such, you’ll likewise find a nice selection of Sri Lankan, Indian, and Western dishes.

In addition to the hot food, a range of hot and cold beverages is also available. In particular, there was a Lavazza coffee machine and a nice tea selection from Jaf Tea. Furthermore, sitting in the chiller are also bottled water, a choice of fruit juices, tonic water, soda water, Coca-Cola, ginger ale, and milk. Meanwhile, complementing the cold drinks is a choice of sandwiches, cold cuts, yoghurt, and cut fruit sitting on a cold plate.

Bar

In addition to the drinks available at the buffet, the Serenediva Lounge also has a tended bar. Located on the corner of the buffet spread and the dining area, the bar features a decent selection of wines and spirits, as well as beer. What is impressive, however, was the provision of Champagne – a rare sight in many Business Class lounges. On my particular visit, Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut was on offer – the same served on board in Business Class!

Amenities

Considering the small size of the lounge, it is no surprise that there are barely any facilities available. There is, however, a ‘Business Centre’ composed of a single computer and printed on a work desk. In addition, WiFi connectivity is available to the lounge’s patrons. Although hotel rooms and a spa are on offer at the Serenediva complex, these facilities are paid-for and outside the scope of service to frequent flyers accessing the Serenediva Lounge.

Toilet and Shower

The restroom and shower facility is located outside the Serenediva Lounge proper, being shared with the other patrons of the Palm Strip Lounge and the Serenediva Transit Hotel. Located next to the main reception desk, it is a basic facility that’s at least dry and relatively clean. While the dark tiles and dim lighting make the restroom feel stuffy and uninviting, I appreciate that it is cleaned and maintained by a dedicated attendant.

A single shower is also available, offered as a stall located within the restroom. Unfortunately, it remains a basic facility, featuring just a single showerhead in a small and tight room, with frills extending only to a bar of soap. I’ll add that towels are available on request from the reception desk outside.

Overall

The Serenediva Lounge is not much more than a glorified waiting room, with its drab and uninviting setting and small size. While not as bad as the Batik Air Lounge at Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, for instance, it is still a shame for SriLankan to provide such a basic facility for its most loyal frequent flyers. For one, I disliked the packed and uncomfortable seating, as well as the stuffy atmosphere in the windowless room. Despite my otherwise negative sentiments, I still liked the selection of food provided at Serenediva. As such, I think it’s worth visiting when you’re hungry or in need of a drink.

Read more from this trip here!