ðə θˈɜːɾihˈɛktɛɹ sˈaɪt stɹˈædəld θɹˈiː stˈiːp hˈɪlz, ðə wˈɛstɚnmˌoʊst ˌoʊvɚlˈʊkɪŋ ðə sˈiː ænd sˈɛpɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌmðɪ ˈʌðɚ tˈuː baɪ ɐ lˈoʊlˈaɪɪŋ vˈæli ðæt kˈæɹid ðə mˈeɪn ɹˈoʊd fɹʌm mætˈɑːɹɹə tə hˈæmbɐntˌoʊɾə.
The 30-hectare site straddled three steep hills, the westernmost overlooking the sea and separated from the other two by a low-lying valley that carried the main road from Matara to Hambantota.