Museum

A lot of history in Sri Lanka is preserved categorically in its museums. With around 16 museums in various parts of the country, the museums in Sri Lanka showcase a variety of things from historical (Read More) Make sure you visit at least a few of these museums to get a clear idea of Sri Lanka in its entirety.

A lot of history in Sri Lanka is preserved categorically in its museums. With around 16 museums in various parts of the country, the museums in Sri Lanka showcase a variety of things from historical.  

National Museum of Colombo
The National Museum of Colombo is a two-storey building which is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. It dates back to 1877 and has a colonial vibe with a rich history covering 2500 years. The founder of the museum was William Henry Gregory, British Governor of Ceylon from 1872–1877. The building’s artworks have an essence of the Dutch, Portuguese and British Colonial times, along with the display of significant ancient and local artefacts, farming methods, tools and traditional craft. The museum’s construction is very well planned out and easy to navigate through the corridor and the guards guide you to the various galleries. It has three main sections, including natural science, cultural galleries and a gift shop. It houses plenty of items of the ancient and colonial period so you will need at least 2-3 hours for the tour.
Colombo Dutch Museum, Colombo
The Colombo Dutch Museum is a beautiful two-story building which is a storehouse of some fantastic architecture and history of Dutch colonial rule of Sri Lanka. The Colombo Dutch museum was initially a the residence of the Dutch governor- Thomas Van Rhee, and it was inside the walls of this museum that a treaty was signed with the Dutch.

The building of the Colombo Dutch Museum has been used for many purposes so far, such as a college, military hospital, police station, seminary and even a post office. All this serves as evidence for the diverse range of activities which have taken place inside the Colombo Dutch Museum.
National Museum of Galle
One of the oldest Dutch buildings in the Galle Fort, the National Museum of Galle was built in 1656 as a commissariat store. The museum houses collections from the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. Consisting of three galleries in total, the first one containing old local artworks, the second one has artefacts from the Dutch periods and the third with evidence of a trade relationship between China and Sri Lanka.
Ambalangoda is a town known for its masks, to reiterate the tradition and its rich heritage, the Mask Museum in Sri Lanka was established to strengthen the culture. Some of the costumes here are acclaimed for their intricate designs and patterns with some of them even dating back 20-30 years ago. The museum has a small library and a factory adjacent to it which serves as research fodder for people looking to learn more about the craft.