Explore Sri Lankas Past At The Colombo Museum

The city of Colombo has a rich yet turbulent past

. The Colombo Museum, though not exclusively dedicated to Sri Lankan culture, is an excellent place for any tourist to start their exploration of the country, as it showcases how the nation was affected during different periods in history.

The pre-history of Sri Lanka can be traced back almost 30,000 years, from which period the oldest human skeletons were found in a cave located in the mountainous western part of the country. From these beginnings, Sri Lanka had progressed to a relatively advanced civilization around 6th century BC. Artifacts from this period include pottery, cooking utensils and stone slabs with writing carved on them. However, the country was invaded by a prince from India around this time, who established his power base in the northern region, selecting Anuradhapura as his capital. The resulting revolts and Indian migration led to the depletion of the islands original indigenous population, and eventually extinction.

During this period, Sri Lanka developed rapidly in fields of literature, art, music and construction. Complex agricultural schemes were implemented and irrigation fuelled a the growth of a self-sustaining economy during this period. However, invasions by neighboring South Indian Emperors ended the golden age of Anuradhapura after about a thousand years. However, the legacy of the Kings that ruled can be seen on display at the museum, and intricate brass statues and well crafted fighting instruments tell the tale of a highly advanced civilization.

During the course of the next thousand years the capital was moved slowly from the north of the country to its west. A number of epic works of literature were created during this period and most of the art and crafts began to show a leaning towards the South Indian style.

The early part of the 16th century saw the arrival of colonial Portuguese forces, who by various means managed to control the coastal parts of the country. The cultural influence of the Europeans was huge and many exhibits are dedicated to how furniture, clothes and weapons underwent a radical change during this period. After the arrival of the Portuguese; the Dutch and English colonists also played an important role in the history of Sri Lanka, with the British finally conquering the whole country in the mid 19th century. The cultural upheavals of this period and the reawakening following independence in 1948 are documented by the museums exhibits.

The Colombo Museums extensive collection should not be missed when you travel to Sri Lanka. When compiling a list of must-see Colombo attractions to feature in your travel itinerary, Truly Sri Lanka is one of the most helpful travel portals you can visit. The site details all the relevant background information about the countrys prime attractions that a traveler could require.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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