The museums in Colombo provide a peek and insight into the history of the country and its cultures and traditions as well as the rise of the country as a great architectural heritage. Being one of the most distinctive countries, Sri Lanka offers a lot to explore.
1. Colombo National Museum
The Colombo Museum as it was called at the beginning was established on 1st January 1877. It founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the time. The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental in bringing to the notice of Gregory on his appointment as Governor in 1872 the need for a public museum with much difficulty the approval of the legislative council was obtained within a year.
Open Hours and Days: 09.00 am – 06.00pm (Except Public holidays)
Location: 854, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7
Entry fees: 300 per person
Photo Credits: anna.onderkova
2. National Museum of Natural History
The museum depicts natural heritage of Sri Lanka. It displays birds, mammals, reptiles, sea-mammals, insects, botanical plants, gems and geological specimens of Sri Lanka.
Web: www.museum.gov.lk
Open Hours and Days: 09.00 am – 06.00pm (Except Public holidays)
Location: Nelum Pokuna Mawatha, Colombo 7
Entry fees: 300 per person
Photo Credits: BT Images
3. Colombo Dutch Museum
The museum is housed In the Old ‘Dutch House’ on Prince Street, Pettah, which was earlier the residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow. The museum displays Dutch legacy through artifacts such as furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc.
Web: www.museum.gov.lk
Open Hours and Days: 09.00 am – 05.00pm (Except Sundays, Mondays and Public holidays)
Location: Prince Street, Colombo 1, Colombo 00100
Entry fees: Rs 500 (Tourists); Rs 20 (Locals); Rs 250 (For photography)
Photo Credits: peckishme
4. Independence Memorial Museum
Located in the basement of the Independence Memorial Hall in the Independence Square, the Independence Memorial Museum in Sri Lanka was established to honor the country’s heroes who were instrumental in helping Sri Lanka gain its freedom from the British forces. The museum has collections of busts, portraits of political leaders, patriots and men, each with their stories written next to it.
Opening and closing time of the museum: Tue-Sat 9 am– 4:30 pm; Closed on Mon, Sun and public holidays
Location: Independence Square, Colombo 7
Entry fees: Rs 600, Rs 150-Kids (Tourists); Rs 10, Rs 5-kids (Locals); Rs 250 (for photographs)
Photo Credits: tales_of_ceylon
5. Currency Museum
If you are interested in the history of coins and banknotes in Ceylon/Sri Lanka, then this is the place to go. Its strength is in recent issue of coin and currency notes. It is the only place which has on display the off metal Gold and Silver strikes of the one rupee presidential coins.
Opening and closing time of the museum: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm including Monday to Saturday on all working days except public and bank holidays.
Location: Chatham St, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Entry fees: Rs. 500/- for non-resident adults and Rs. 200/- for non-resident students
Photo Credits: ShaLanka Info
6. Colombo Port Maritime Museum
The Colombo Port Maritime Museum also known as the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Maritime Museum. The museum building was formerly a Dutch prison and is the only Dutch period building which exists up to date within the Colombo Port area.
Opening and closing time of the museum: 09:00 AM – 04:00 PM9 (closed on Sundays)
Location: 19, Chaithya Rd, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Entry fees: Rs. 500/- for non-resident adults and Rs. 300/- for non-resident students.
Photo Credits: Yamu.lk
7.Traditional Puppet Art Museum
Sri Lankan puppet art has a Sri Lankan hereditary. It focuses on the social, cultural and religious correlation that exists in the Sri Lankan community.
Opening and closing time of the museum: Mon-Sun; 9am to 4:30pm
Location: Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha,Pinwaththa, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Entry fees: Free of cost
Photo Credits: Sri Lanka Travel Notes
8.National Railway Museum
Housing collections of old engines, locomotives, trolleys, carriages and everything railways, the National Railway Museum was established to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sri Lankan Railways.
Opening and closing time of the museum: Mon-Sun; 9am to 4pm (expect on Poya days)
Location: Olcott Mawatha, Colombo 01
Entry fees: Rs 10 (School children), Rs 20 (Children without school uniform), Rs 50 (Adults), Rs 500 (Foreign Citizens)
9. Sri Lanka Air Force Museum
The Air Force Museum exhibits old aircraft and types of equipment that were in use by the Sri Lankan Air Force. It is the only National Museum in Sri Lanka that is solely dedicated to aviation and even has collections from World War 2 in its hangars.
Opening and closing time of the museum: Mon-Sun; 8:30am to 4:30pm
Location: Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
Entry fees: Rs 30 (Locals, Children), Rs 120 (Locals, Adults), Rs 700 (Foreigners, Children), Rs 1050 (Foreigner, Adults)
Photo Credits: airforcemuseum.lk
3 prominent hotels Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Red and Cinnamon Lakeside are located in close proximity to these museums in Colombo.
