When Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was under British rule, the governor in charge during the period of 1805-11 was Sir Thomas Maitland.He had acquired land at "Galkissa" (Mount Lavinia) and decided to construct a personal residence there.During this time, legend has it that he fell in love with a dancing girl named Lovina who had been born to Portuguese and Sinhalese parents.During construction, the governor arranged to build a secret tunnel between Lovina 's house which was located nearby, one end inside her house and the other inside his wine cellar, so that the lovers could meet in secret.However, Sir Thomas Maitland left Ceylon in 1811 and settled in Malta, where he died a bachelor.Some time in 1920 the tunnel was sealed up and the Gypsy village that surrounded the mansion was developed into a modern bustling city. Later, the city of "Galkissa" was renamed "Mount Lavinia", keeping her name alive.

 Mount Lavinia