Exploring the Historic Legacy of the Pearl of the Indian Ocean at the Colombo National Museum

Exploring the Historic Legacy of the Pearl of the Indian Ocean at the Colombo National Museum

Having opened its doors to the public on the first of January over 130 years ago, the Colombo National Museum can be best described as the most reliable authority on the island nation's prolific past. Founded by then governor of Ceylon, Sir William Henry Gregory, it is said that the institution's exhibits consisted of 1200 natural history items and antiquities at inception. Having evolved in size and scope over the turn of the century, the museum boasts an impressive collection of nearly 100,000 antiquities and natural history remnants when it celebrated its 125th anniversary.

Housed in an imposing and decidedly Italian style building conceived by architect James G. Smither, the museum is divided in to 15 sub departments that deal with various aspects of the country's multicultural history. The section include Pre & Proto Historic Period, Stone Antiquities Period, the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Polonnaruwa Period, the Transitional Period, the Kandyan era and the post independence D.S. Senanayake Period while galleries devoted to coins & currency, paintings, textiles, standards & banners, arts & crafts, arms & armaments, traditional agriculture and traditional rituals are also found at the venue.

Highlights include the archaeological finds pertaining to human evolution found in the Pre & Proto Historic Period Gallery which boasts artefacts discovered from caves in Kitulagala, Hambantota, Kegalle, Kuruwita and even Mannar. The Transitional Period Gallery on the other hand houses the oldest palm leaf manuscript in Pali found in the island which dates back to the 13th century and features ancient Sinhala letters. The Kandy Kingdom gallery is also a popular point of interest as it houses the renowned throne of the last Kandyan monarch in addition to the royal crown, garments and even watches belonging to the royal household.

The Tholuwila Buddha statue located at the entrance of the museum is also one its most captivating exhibits as this ancient sculpture in the Samadhi posture was discovered in Anuradhapura as far back as 800 AD. Other artefacts of interest include Vishnu and Ganesha idols, remnants of ancient Buddhist temples and other items such as water filters urinals and irrigation wares that showcase the engineering prowess of this proud nation.

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