About Colombo National Museum Key Exhibits & Galleries Library & Archives Visitor Info & Amenities How to Get There & Nearby Why Visit?
Sri Lanka’s largest museum, founded on 1 January 1877 by Governor William Gregory, is housed in an Italianate neoclassical building designed by James Smither. It holds over 100,000 artifacts showcasing Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural heritage—from Kandyan royal regalia to prehistoric relics. Learn more on Wikipedia
• Fetish highlights include the throne and crown jewels of the last King of Kandy, on display since 1934.
• Ancient Buddhist art: 4th–5th C. Toluvila seated Buddha statue, 6th C. Badulla bronze preaching Buddha.
• Ethnology & archaeology: demon masks, moon-stones, rock inscriptions, and colonial-era weapons/maps.
• Natural history (housed across the grounds): whale bones, leopard and extinct species skeletons, fossils.
Established in 1877, now Sri Lanka’s first legal-deposit library, housing over 12 million items including palm-leaf manuscripts and government publications across multiple languages.
• Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM daily (closed public holidays).
• Tickets: LKR 1,200 (foreign adults), LKR 600 (foreign children); local rates around LKR 100–500.
• Facilities: On-site café under banyan trees, Laksala gift shop, accessible via Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha near Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo 00700.
• Photography permit: LKR250; video LKR2,500.
Located in Colombo 7, easily reached via Fort bus and tuk-tuks. Nearby highlights include Viharamahadevi Park, Nelum Pokuna Theatre, and Independence Square.
A cultural centerpiece offering a deep-dive into 2,500 years of history—from prehistory and ancient kingdoms to colonial influence and ecology—within a majestic historical setting.
| Accepted Currencies: | Sri Lankan Rupees, USD |
|---|---|
| Payment Types: | Cash, Credit Card |
| Mon |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tue |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Wed |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Thu |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Fri |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Sat |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |
| Sun |
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM |