Museum of Colombo
Founded by the former British Governor Sir William Henry Gregory of Ceylon which is how Sri Lanka was popularly known, the National Museum of Colombo showcases the works of renowned artists that portrays the cultural heritage of the emerald nation. The museum exhibits 18th-century galleries which are full of intricate carvings, unique masks of demons, swords of the knights, and other art collection of local artists from the colonial era.
Timings
Monday to Sunday – 9 am to 5 pm
HISTORY
The Colombo museum as it was called at the beginning was established on 1 January 1877.
Its founder was Sir William Henry Gregory the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at the
time. The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental in bringing to the notice of
Gregory on his appointment as Governor in 1872 the need for a public Museum with much
difficulty the approval of the legislative council was obtained within a year. The Architect
of the Public Works Department, James G. Smither (1833 – 1910)[3] was able to prepare the
plans for new structure on Italian Architectural style. The construction was completed
in 1876 and the Museum commenced it functions in the following year.
The construction of the Museum was carried out by Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar
(born 1829, died 1925, aka Wapchi Marikar, who was descended from the Sheiq Fareed family
who arrived in Ceylon in 1060 AD), paternal grandfather of Sir Razik Fareed. Wapchi Marikar
was the builder of the General Post Office in Colombo, Colombo Customs, Old Town Hall in Pettah,
Galle Face Hotel, Victoria Arcade, Finlay Moir building, the Clock Tower, Batternburg Battery
and many other buildings that are still standing today (2011). The Old Town Hall in Pettah,
which is now a busy market, was built on a contract for the sum of 689 Sterling Pounds.
n January 1877, the completed building of the Colombo Museum was declared open by Governor
Gregory, in the presence of a large crowd, amongst which there were many Muslims present. At
the end of the ceremony, the governor asked Wapchi Marikar what honour he wished to have for
his dedication. He asked the same question of the carpenter S. M. Perera who was responsible
for the woodwork of the Museum, who requested and was awarded a local rank. Marikar requested
that the museum be closed on Fridays, the Muslim sabbath; this request was granted and maintained,
although the Museum later much opened on all days except public holidays.