Perhaps I was fortunate but I had a perfectly acceptable stay at the Royal Lotus. It's a shame there's no Trip Advisor "good" option because this hotel was more than "average" although not quite "very good". Reading previous reviews I worried that I had made a mistake in booking here for my group of 20 but the hotel was better than I had expected, and the ones who chose to stay to enjoy the facilities rather than do an afternoon / evening tour of Polonnaruwa were pleased with their decision. The pool-side terrace overlooking the Giritale lake was pleasant and the buffet meals were well prepared and not over priced. My room was one of the ones set apart from the hotel, with a stylish design including an "outdoor" shower. It wasn't as immaculate as could be expected in a top quality hotel but it was quiet and was a restful place to stay for the night. I would happily return to this hotel.

This hotel looks nice from outside - the entrence is nice designed, the pool area, lobby with lake view... But once you enter the room, you will find old and dirty furniture and a srilankan nightmare - bathroom window to the corridor. Thanks to that, your stay will be noisy day and night :( The water in shower is perfectly hot, but the rest is just bad. Dining room is small, so some guests have to eat in a lobby! Design of the livingroom si strange, but the food is good. Staff is very nice, not bothering you like in other hotels in Sri Lanka. Location is also not that great. Noisy road right bellow windows with morning honking busses.

Greeted nicely with a pleasant complementary drink, lobby and reception looked very clean and compared favourably to western standards.

Very helpful staff with WIFI problems. However, the room was old fashioned and did not reflect the quality of the lobby. Everything did work but there seemed to be a lack of attention to the details (such as exposed concrete plinth the TV was standing on).

Bathroom was functional but not a pleasant place to spend much time. However, having drinks on the veranda was very nice.

Good choice of food at the buffet which was lucky as the hotel was isolated. Staff were very helpful and not pushy, but the bar area was very hot and stuffy (hence us sitting outside)

The hotel has nice views of the pond (which is easy accessible and offers nice birdwatching opportunities in the earl morning), a nice lobby with Nymphaeas at the front door and, depending on the weather and the number of guests, a restaurant by the pool. Food was ok, specially the Sinhalese dishes, but not incredible.
Rooms, on the other hand, where old and creepy, in dark colors. They are poorly furnished with old chairs, tables and bed, and the terrace overlooking the pond didn't even had a seat to enjoy the views. The AC worked randomly and the bathroom had only a "shower" (more like a pipe hanging over your head), it didn't look very clean, and it was actually the only hotel in Sri Lanka where we had our showers in flip-flops.
Internet access is available at the lobby, and was the most expensive we were offered during our vacation, starting at 250 Rs for 30 minutes. Plus, actually it worked only for 10 minutes at a very poor speed.
All-in-all, I would recommend you to book in other hotel, if possible. I can't believe there is nothing better around.