Museums in Sri Lanka are the
repository of the glorious cultural heritage of the country. Sri Lanka has
several museums which are scattered all over the country. Some of the famous
museums are
National Museum, Colombo : Sri Lanka's rich cultural heritage is
depicted through various museums scattered all over the country. Designed in
a colonial style, the National Museum is famous for collection of ancient
royal artifacts, Sinhalese Artwork (carvings, sculptures), antique
furniture, Chinese and old manuscripts. It also houses 500,000 valuable
books and more than 4000 palm leaf manuscripts, ancient and medieval
jewelry, rare collection of traditional masks, temple frescoes, wood and
ivory carvings; ceramics objects including VOC plates of the Dutch period;
stone sculpture and lithic inscriptions. A Puppetry and Children's Museum
are within the museum. National museum is open daily from 09.00 hrs to 17.00
hrs except on Fridays.
The Dutch Period Museum, Colombo : Located on Prince Street, Pettah
, The Dutch Period Museum is one of the prime attractions of tourism in Sri
Lanka. Earlier it was the residence of Count August Carl Von Ranzow but now
displays Dutch legacy through distinct artifacts such as furniture,
ceramics, coins, arms etc. The museum was opened to general public in 1982.
It opens daily at 9 a.m and closes at 5 p.m except Fridays.
The National Museum of Natural History, Colombo : As the name
reflects, National Museu of Natural History exhibits the natural heritage of
Sri Lanka. The fauna i.e. mammals and birds are displayed in dioramas. This
museum has different sections on Applied Botany, Geology and Fossils and the
Natural Environment. In the Discovery Room one finds the mounted skeleton of
an elephant and a scale model in relief showing the topography of a part of
Sri Lanka. The museum opens daily at 09.00 hrs to 5.00 hrs.
The National Maritime Museum, Galle : Housed in an Old Dutch
building in the historic Galle Fort, National Maritime Museum displays those
things which are connected with marine biology and botany. It also displays
some beautiful diagrams showing local fishing methods, natural coral beds,
sea grass beds and deep sea fishes. Every day it opens at 9.00 a.m and
closes at 5 p.m.
Gems Museum, Ratnapura : Built in the famous Ehelapola Walawwa on
the Colombo Road in Ratnapura, Gems Museum has a great collection of pre
historic objects and fossile of Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus and Elephant
collected from the gem pits of Ratnapura District. It also displays jewelry,
textiles, flags, gems and semi-precious stones. Ratnapura being famous for
gems, one can also see a model of the process of gem-mining in this museum.
Even some of the artifacts displayed here, reflect the unique art and
culture of the Sabaragamuwa Province. Every day except Friday the museum is
open daily from 9.00 a.m to 5 p.m.
Archaeological Museums : As Annuradhapura, Isurumuniya, Mihintale,
Veheragala, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Sigiriya, Kandy, Dedigama, Yapahuwa,
Panduwasnuwara, Kotte, Matara (Star-Fort), Deegavapiya and Kataragama are
sites of great cultural heritage of bygone era. So, the Archaeological
Department of Sri Lanka has constructed Archaeological Museums on these
places. Tourists can visits these museums free of charge but photography is
not allowed unless a permit is obtained from the Director General of Dept.
of Archaeology. Notably, permits are necessary to photograph monuments at
certain Archaeological sites. These museums are open daily from 08.00 a.m to
5.00 p.m but closed on Tuesdays and some of them remain close on public
holidays also.
