National Museum of Colombo

The Colombo National Museum, opened on 1 January 1877 in a white colonial building in Colombo 7, is Sri Lanka's largest museum. Its collection includes the throne and crown of the last king of Kandy, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, Buddhist and Hindu bronzes, masks and royal regalia. It suits first-time visitors who want the island's history in one building.

Sir William Gregory and the 1876 Italianate building

Governor Sir William Gregory founded it, and the Italianate building, completed in 1876, was designed by James George Smither of the Public Works Department and built by Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar. The Department of National Museums runs it. The British government later returned the Kandyan crown jewels and throne, which joined the collection.

History downstairs, themes upstairs

The ground-floor galleries follow the island's history in order, while the upper floor is arranged by theme. Highlights include the Dedigama elephant lamp and a copy of the gilt bronze Tara statue held in the British Museum.

A legal deposit library since 1885

The museum library opened on the same day as the museum and absorbed the Government Oriental Library of 1870. Since 1885 a copy of every document printed in the country has had to be deposited here.