‘SECONDS,’ which was brought to light by the current co-owners Seyan and Yanise de Silva, had a humble beginning in 2015. The story began with one room being converted into a dormitory to accommodate six people.

With a strong vision, persistence, courage, patience, and professionalism, the seedling grew into a robust enterprise. It withstood and thrived despite the tourism challenges of the Easter Sunday attacks, COVID-19, and the economic crisis.
After the onset of COVID-19, many foreigners were left stranded by accommodation closures overnight. In response, Seconds Colombo not only remained one of the few operational hostels in the country but also lowered its costs to the bare minimum and provided financial assistance to foreign nationals facing financial constraints.

Seconds Colombo continued to extend hospitality to any foreign nationals who were stuck in the country. During these challenging times, the business made significant progress, with top management focusing on delivering top-notch service and keeping the doors open 24/7, 365 days a year.

The entity advanced with strategic management and has emerged stronger, providing employment and opportunities to a team of 10 individuals, both local and international, as well as up to three volunteers from around the world. 

We now boast a fully-fledged garden café and restaurant with a plunge pool, offering a total seating capacity of over 40. Our accommodations include six rooms with a total capacity of 24 individuals, and our occupancy has exceeded 75% over the past 10 months.

Social events, entrepreneurship development, vendor markets, and other activities have been the icing on the cake, with many events sponsored by corporations such as ABC Radio Network. Constant positive feedback from our guests and volunteers has earned us Superhost status on Airbnb and Worldpackers and an excellent rating of 8.7 on Booking.com, with reviews describing us as a “perfect place to stay, work, and chill” or “a great retreat away from the bustle of Colombo city.”