The Island on Bolgoda was the creative retreat of Ulrick Plesner, Danish architect and business partner to the celebrated Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa. Plesner leased the island in the 1960s where he spent much time, both before and during his marriage. He used the island, then known as Santa Lucia, as a place to escape the heat and bustle of Colombo. It was an important source of peace and inspiration for his highly acclaimed building designs and techniques. His time on the Island is well documented in his book In Situ.

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Plesner first arrived in Sri Lanka on 8th January, 1958, on the invitation of another eminent Sri Lankan architect, Minnette de Silva. He was so enamoured by the country that he ended up spending a total of 16 years, broken into two phases – nine and seven years. He met Bawa a few months after he first arrived in Sri Lanka and the two began working together almost immediately. Although Bawa was the more renowned international figure, he and Plesner were partners in the same architectural practice for nine years. They shared ideas and collaborated on many iconic buildings, including the Polontolawa House of 1964 and St Thomas' Preparatory School in Kollupitiya. Together, Bawa and Plesner pioneered a new style of Asian architecture known as Tropical Modernism. 

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The Island on Bolgoda has been the holiday home of a Sri Lankan family for 70 years and today is managed by Amici Leisure.