Department of National Museums

P.O. Box. 854, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
Director     Dr.N.A.Wikramasingha
Office Tel : + 94-1-2694767
Office Fax : + 94-1-2695366
E-mail : cnmid@sltnet.lk
 

Mission

Collection, conservation, research and exhibition of artifacts/ specimens/ books manuscripts and other documents on natural and cultural heritage science and technology for the entertainment, education and utilization by people.

Key Functions  

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Collection, registration and preservation of objects and specimens relating to pre-history entomology, anthropology, zoology, geology and paleontology.
 
bullet History of the Museum
bullet Colombo National Museum
bullet Gallery No
   Locations of under the Department
bullet Natural History Museum, Colombo
bullet Dutch Period Museum ,Colombo
bullet Folk Museum ,Anuradhapura
bullet National Museum , Ratnapura
bullet National Maritime Museum , Galle
bullet National Museum , Galle
bullet National Museum , Kandy
bullet Walisinghe Harischandra Museum , Katana
 

History of the Museum
The National Museum of Colombo celebrates the rich visual traditions and extraordinarily diverse cultures of Sri Lanka. Through its collections, exhibitions, research and public programs, the museum fosters an appreciation of Sri Lankan art traditions and cultural heritage.

The National Museum of Colombo could be considered as a place which is remembered eternally within the museum tradition of Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1st January 1877, during the tenure of office of the British Colonial Governor. Sir William Henry Gregory. As the interest of the study of antiques grew world- over in the 19th Century, museums too came into their existence in many countries of Asia too. The National Museum of Colombo too came into its existence, similarly.

The National Museum of Colombo is the oldest and largest museum in Sri Lanka. The credit of establishing this first museum in modern Sri Lanka should go to the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Governor Sir Gregory being a man of erudition and scholarship not only appreciated the proposal of this Society to establish a museum but also supported the project without reserve.

The museum is housed in an imposing two storied building designed in the Italian building style by James G. Smither, the architect of the Public Works Department. It has now become one of the finest historical monuments in the city of Colombo.

However the concept of museums is not new to Sri Lankans. As stated in the Mahawansa, Sri Lankans understood the value and importance of antiques even way back in 3rd Century B.C. It is stated that some parts of the ship in which Sanghamitta Theruni brought a branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi to Sri Lanka had been protected, preserved , deposited and displayed in Anuradhapura during this time. Accordingly it is obvious that the Sri Lankans have practiced the display of antiques long before concept of the modern museums came into existence in the West.
 

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Colombo National Museum
The Collection of Objects -:

Tholuwila Buddha Image 3rd-5 th Century A.D.

The Colombo Museum housed many exhibits exceeding over one hundred thousand items, that provided an insight to the history of the country. They presented a fine testimony to the glory and the grandeur of our ancient civilization. Most of these collections do not have parallels any where in the island. This museum possess a number of exquisite sculptures of Sri Lanka, both in stone and in bronze. Most significant among them is the large seated Buddha image which was found in Toluwila, an ancient site near Anuradhapura. This is one of the best preserved ancient Budddha image so far found in Sri Lanka. Some of other wonderful items in stone in the museum are the rock inscriptions. These show the evolution of the Sinhala script from BRAHMI script . Among other items of interest are Guard stone s, moonstones, carved stone plaques and stone pillars . These could be considered as unique creations of the stone sculpture in Sri Lanka.
The seated Buddha image from Badulla, the Bodhisattva images from Veheragala , Thuparama, Giridara, Buduruwagala, Badulla and the statues of the Goddess Tara , Siva Nataraja and Ardhanari Nateshwara are some of the beautiful Buddhist and Hindu icons among the collections of bronzes.

Bronze Buddha Image from Badulla 6th Century A.D.

Ivory Combs, Andy Period

The collection of ancient Coins from 3rd Century B.C. to the contemporary times, exceeds over hundred thousand.

A large number of valuable paintings representative of traditional Art of Sri Lanka are on display here. Among them are the paintings belonging to the traditional style of Sigiriya, Hindagala, Polonnaruwa and Kandy, as well. It affords a fine sampling on the development of art in Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura Period to Kandy Period.

 
A wonderful collection of folk arts and crafts too are on exhibition. These crafts depict the daily life of the Sri Lankan people through the ages. Among them are the Kolam and Masks connected with traditional dancing as well as a large number of musical instruments.

Mask of Mahasammatha Bisawa
 

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