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NATIONAL
MUSEUM, COLOMBO
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Situated in Sir Marcus
Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7. The first public Museum to be established
in Sri Lanka (1877). Best known for its collection of antiques and
objects d'art displaying the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka. It
includes the national treasures and art facts from all parts of
the island. A section of the first floor houses the Puppetry and
Children's Museum. It also houses a library with a collection of
about 500,000 books including very valuable and rare ones and more
than 4,000 ancient palm leaf manuscripts. Open daily from 0900 hrs
to 1700 hrs except on Fridays when it is closed to the public for
cleaning. |
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NATIONAL
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
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Situated in the same
premises as the Cultural Museum described above. Also, accessible
from Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. Displays the Natural
Heritage of Sri Lanka. The fauna i.e. the mammals and the birds
are displayed in dioramas. There are sections on Applied Botany,
Geology and Fossils and the Natural Environment. In the Discovery
Room one finds the mounted skeleton of an elephant and a scale model
in relief showing the topography of a part of Sri Lanka. Open daily
from 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs. |
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THE
DUTCH PERIOD MUSEUM
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The old `Dutch House'
on Prince Street, Pettah (Colombo 11) which houses this museum was
built in the latter part of the 17th century and was initially the
residence of Count August Carl Van Ranzow along with five other
houses of the elite. Today, the sides of the street are choc-a-block
with boutiques and stores of moslem traders. The restoration of
this building commenced in 1977 and was completed in 1981. This
museum was opened to the public in 1982. This building embodies
the unique architectural features of a colonial Dutch town house.
The museum while displaying the Dutch legacy with the artefacts
viz. furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc. portrays facets of contemporary
life and culture. Open daily except Fridays from 0900 Hrs. to -
1700 Hrs. |
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KANDY
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Situated behind the
Temple of the Tooth, in a building of historical and architectural
interest. The collections are all of the Kandyan Period (17th -
18th Century). Open daily from 0900 Hr. - 1700 Hrs. |
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RATHNAPURA
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The National Museum
of Ratnapura is housed in the famous Ehelapola Walawwa on the Colombo
Road in Ratnapura. The museum displays to a great extent the prehistory
of Sri Lanka. Ratnapura being famous for gems, the process of gem-mining
is displayed through a model. Some of the artefacts displayed here,
reflect the unique arts & culture of the Sabaragamuwa Province.
Open daily except Fridays from 0900 Hrs - 1700 Hrs. |
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ANURADHAPURA
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The Folk Museum is in
the sacred city close to the Archaeological Museum and has a collection
of artefacts illustrative of the rural life of the North Central
Province. Open daily except Thursdays & Fridays from 0900 Hrs
- 1700 Hrs. |
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GALLE
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Within the Fort of Galle
in a Dutch Colonial building in Church Street is the Cultural Museum
adjoining the New Oriental Hotel.The artefacts reflect the art and
culture of the Southern Province. Open daily except Mondays from
0900 Hrs - 1700 Hrs. |
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WEERA
PURAN APPU MUSEUM
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Housed at Weera Puran
Appu Vidyalaya, New Galle Road, Moratuwa. This museum exhibits items
in relation to the life and times of this great hero who fought
the British against unfair levy of taxes and injustice and laid
down his life in defence of the country. |
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BANDARANAIKE
MUSEUM
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Housed in the Bandaranaike
Memorial International Conference Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo
7, the museum contains photographs, objects and documents portraying
the life and times of the late Prime Minister, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
Visitors can listen to recordings of some of his famous speeches.
Open daily except Mondays and full moon days from 0900 Hrs. to 1600
Hrs. For special arrangements contact: Curator, Bandaranaike Museum. |
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MUSEUMS
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The Archaeological Department
has established Archaeological Site Museums in Anuradhapura (ancient
city). Isurumuniya, Mihintale, Veheragala, Vavuniya, Jaffna, Sigiriya,
Kandy, Dedigama, Yapahuwa, Panduwasnuwara, Kotte, Matara (Star-Fort),
Deegavapiya and Kataragama. Tourists may visit these museums free
of charge but taking photographs is not allowed unless a permit
is obtained from the Director General of Dept. of Archaeology, Sir
Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7. Notably, pemits are necessary
to photograph monuments at certain Archaeological sites. Archaelogical
museums are open daily from 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs but closed on Tuesdays
and some of them will be close on public holidays too. |
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ART
GALLERIES
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The Art Gallery at Dr.
Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7, caters largely to the conservative
taste in painting. The Lionel Wendt Art Gallery at Guildford Crescent,
Colombo 7, displays contemporary paintings. Kalagaraya, the permanent
art gallery of the Alliance Francaise de Colombo, can be found at
54, Ward Place, Colombo 7, and displays a representative collection
of contemporary art.The Sapumal Foundation Gallery at 32/4, Barnes
Place, Colombo 7, open on Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays between
1000 hrs. - 1300 hrs. displays and sells Sri Lankan paintings from
1920 onwards. |
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PERMITS
REQUIRED
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It should be noted that
tourists who visit the Archaeological sites currently under the
Cultural Triangle's Archaeological programme should obtain tickets
from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, 255, Bauddhaloka Mawatha,
Colombo 7. These tickets provide admission to and permission to
photograph all Cultural Triangle's archaeological sites and monuments.
Further details on this are available from the Central Cultural
Fund Office, 212, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. |
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