| National Museum, Colombo
Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7.
The oldest and largest Museum in the country, established in 1877.
Best known for its collection of antiques and objects of displaying the
cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. For the visitor on a short tour, unable
to visit the ancient cities of Sri Lanka, a visit to the Colombo Museum
will give an idea of the history of the country and its people. The
museum has more than 4.000 palm leaf manuscripts. ancient and medieval
jewellery; rare collection of traditional masks; wood and ivory
carvings; an exquisite collection of Buddhist and Hindu Bronzes, temple
frescoes; ceramic objects including VOC plates of the Dutch period;
antique furniture; lacquered objects; ornate brass, bronze and silver
objects; stone sculpture and lithic inscriptions.
National Museum of Natural History
Natural History Museum is located in the same premises as the
National Museum facing the Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha. This museum
depicts natural heritage of Sri Lanka. It's displays contains birds,
mammels, reptiles, sea-mammels, insects, botanical and also gems and
geological specimens of Sri Lanka. MONUMENT TO RAJAH
To the north of the Maligawa complex facing Natha Devale is the
mausoleum of Rajah, the most devout servant of the Maligawa. Rajah, the
Maligawa tusker that carried the relic casket in the annual Esala
perahera for 50 years from 1937 to 1987 died in 1988. But the majestic
tusker still stands gracefully in still life inside the building with
an extended lease of life given by local taxidermists bringing
nostalgic memories to those who have seen it carrying the casket in the
perahera. Visit to the mausoleum is a tribute paid to the dead tusker. NEGOMBO MAHAHUNUPITIYA WALISINGHE HARISCHANDRA MUSEUM
Walisinghe Harischandra was regarded as a national hero lived in the
19th century. He was active in educating the Sri Lankan of the value of
their cultural heritage at a time when most of the people blindly
imitating the western way of life. The museum houses some furniture and
the other articles belonged to Walisinghe Harischandra and objects of
traditional arts and crafts.
Anuradhapura
This museum is in the sacred city near Archaeological Museum. It
houses a collection of objects reflecting rural life in the North
Central Province. Kandy
This museum is housed in the old palace devoted to queens. It is
located behind the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Collections are all of
Kandyan period (17th -19th centuries) and include jewelery, textiles,
and clothes, arms and weapons, ritual objects, ivory carvings, pottery.
MALIGAWA MUSEUM
Centuries old articles gifted to the Sri Dalada Maligawa by kings,
nobles and other devotees have been put on display in a well laid out
museum within the precincts of the Maligawa. The Two upper stories of
the building at the back of the shrine house this museum where rare ola
manuscripts, Royal apparel, life size models of the last King and Queen
of Kandy, variety of antiquities and ornaments, ritual objects can be
seen.
JAYAWARDANE CULTURAL CENTER
Archives and Library situated at 191, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo
07, houses many valuable books inherited as "Family Treasure" by late
President J.R.Jayawardene and priceless gifts received by him from
many Heads of State during his distinguished career. Ratnapura
This museum is housed in the Ehelapola Walawwa situated on the
Ratnapura on the Colombo road. The museum displays its collections of
pre historic objects and fossil of Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus and
Elephant collected from the gem pits of Ratnapura District. Other
exhibits include jewelery, textiles, flags, gems and semi-precious
stones. Some of the artifacts displayed here, reflect the unique arts
& culture of the Sabaragamuwa Province.
GALLE MARITIME Museum
This museum is housed in an old Dutch building in the historic fort
of Galle. It has on display objects connected with marine biology and
botany and also some beautiful diagrams showing local fishing methods,
natural coral beds, sea grass beds and deep sea fishes.
Galle National Museum
Located in the historic Dutch fort of Galle. This museum displays
objects connected to the history and life of people of Galle. Products
of handicrafts like mat weaving, embroidery horn and tortoise-shell
objects are among the major exhibits. KOGGALA FOLK MUSEUM
Koggala Folk Museum presents a rare collection of folk implements
and appliances from different parts of the island. The items are
arranged under twenty five different categories representing
handicrafts, folk art and music, cottage industries, agriculture, folk
medicine, costumes, religion etc. This museum erected as a tribute to
Martin Wickramasinghe, the doyen of Sinhala writers is Ginpathaliya in
Kggala, the birthplace of the late writer that had once been the
playing field of young Wickramasinghe.
The Dutch Period Museum
The old `Dutch House' on Prince Street, Pettah (Colombo 11) which houses this museum was
built in the latter part of the 17th century and was initially the residence of Count August
Carl Van Ranzow along with five other houses of the elite.This museum was opened to
the public in 1982. This building embodies the unique architectural features of a colonial
Dutch town house. The museum while displaying the Dutch legacy with the arte facts viz. furniture,
ceramics, coins, arms etc. portrays facets of contemporary life and culture. The displays depict
the political, social and economic conditions in the maritime provinces of the Island under the
Dutch rule and it gives and idea of the culture of the Kandyan Kingdom during that period.
Weera Puran Appu Museum
Housed at Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya, New Galle Road, Moratuwa. This
museum exhibits items in relation to the life and times of this great
hero who fought the British against unfair levy of taxes and injustice
and laid down his life in deference of the country.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUMS
The Department of Archaeology maintains archaeological museums at
Anuradhapura, Kandy, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Jaffna, Panduwasnuwara,
Ampara, Yapahuwa and Dedigama. BANDARANAIKE MUSEUM
Housed in the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall,
Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, the museum contains photographs,
objects and documents of Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister,
assassinated in 1959. Visitors can listen to recordings of some of his
famous speeches. Open daily except Mondays and full moon days.
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