Colombo National Museum

The Colombo Museum was established on January 1, 1877 by the British Governor of Ceylon Sir William Henry Gregory. The idea of establishing a museum was brought to his notice by The Royal Asiatic Society (CB). They obtained the approval of the legislative council with much difficulty a year later. J. G. Smither an architect from the Public Works Department planned the building. The construction work was carried out by Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar who was also the builder of the General Post Office in Colombo, Colombo Customs, Old Town Hall in Pettah, Galle Face Hotel, Victoria Arcade, Finlay Moir building, the Clock Tower, Batternburg Battery and many other buildings that are still standing today. The construction of The Colombo Museum was completed in 1876 and the museum opened its doors to the public in 1877. Its first director was Dr Amyrald Haly. Dr Arthur Willey and Dr J Pearson followed. Dr P E P Deranuyagala was its first Sinhala director who took over the museum in 1939.

The museum compound is around seven acres. Around 2000 artifacts were on display at the opening of the Colombo Museum. Over the years thousands more items of ancient cultural and heritage value had joined the collection.The two lower floor of the museum houses artifacts periodwise while the upper floor is divided subjectwise. There are 16 galleries in the museum. The ground floor consists of: Pre and Proto Historic Periods Gallery, Anuradhapura Period Gallery, Polonnaruwa Period Gallery, Transitional Period Gallery, Kandy Period Gallery and Stone Antiquities Gallery. The upper floor gallery arrangement consists of the Painting Gallery, Textile Gallery, Ceramic Gallery, Coins and Currency Gallery, Standards and Banners Gallery, Arts and Crafts Gallery, Arms and Armaments Gallery, Traditional Rituals Gallery Traditional Agriculture Gallery and Furniture Gallery (proposed). 

Read more: Standing the test of time