About
The Colombo National Museum (also known as Sri Lanka National Museum) was founded by British Governor Sir William Henry Gregory in 1877 and is Sri Lanka’s biggest cultural institution that presents the country’s complete historical, artistic and cultural heritage.
The museum occupies a neoclassical building that combines elements of local construction with colonial structures and includes impressive high ceilings and stone floors as well as refined wooden decorations.
Over 2,500 years of historical artefacts are represented in the museum through elements such as stone sculptures from Anuradhapura times and Kandyan royal treasures along with palm-leaf manuscripts and colonial relics that include maps and weapons. Through its interactive presentations, the museum presents a Virtual Reality (VR) tour of Sigiriya Rock Fortress to create accessible historical experiences for visitors of all ages.
The Colombo National Museum spread its collection across multiple galleries which exist on both ground level and upper levels of the museum building. The lower level of the museum displays Sri Lanka’s historical progression beginning from the Pre-Proto Historic Period leading to the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva civilizations and their cultural advancements.
The museum schedule spans from the Pre & Proto Historic Period to the Kandy Period while revealing historical transformations across multiple dynasties. Significant stone artefacts are featured in the Stone Antiquities Gallery at Colombo National Museum.
The upper floor showcases artistry through artistic cultural and historical artifacts which include galleries for Paintings and Standards & Banners alongside galleries for Art & Craft and Arms & Armaments. The Coins & Currency section is part of this floor alongside the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Gallery. The exhibited artefacts at these facilities bring together a full understanding of Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage and its historical artefacts.
All in all, The Colombo National Museum showcases artefacts beyond their physical forms as a comprehensive exploration of Sri Lanka’s cultural essence. Visitors can discover tales of resilience and innovative creativity in all the museum galleries dating from the 9th century to colonial times.
Location
The museum is centrally located in Colombo’s cultural district at Albert Crescent (near Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha), adjacent to the lush Viharamahadevi Park. The exact address of the museum is WV56+X9R, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri Lanka.
Ticket price
The ticket price of the Colombo National Museum varies for local and international visitors.
Local Visitors:
- Child: 60 LKR
- Adult: 120 LKR
Foreign Visitors:
- Child: 750 LKR
- Adult: 1500 LKR
Groups (School Children, Teachers, Parents/Guardians): Not specified.
Video/Camera Permit Price
Visitors to the Colombo National Museum can obtain permission to shoot both photos and videos at the site. Normal camera users need a permit costing Rs. 250 to photograph the museum sites. The video camera permit covers video recording within the museum facility for Rs. 2500. Permits issued by the museum enable visitors to capture memories by maintaining the museum’s established guidelines.
Open time
- The opening time of Colombo National Museum is from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily (Monday-Sunday).
- However, the museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on public holidays.