National Museum of Colombo, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum is one of two museums in Colombo. It is the largest museum in Sri Lanka. It is maintained by the Department of National Museum. The museum holds contains a collection of much importance to Sri Lanka such as the regalia of the country, including the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs as well as many other exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka. 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 two-storey colonnaded building on Prince Street, Pettah (Colombo 11) which houses this museum was constructed during the Dutch occupation of Colombo (1656 - 1796) and was the formal residence of the Governor of Dutch Ceylon Thomas van Rhee (1634 - 1701) during his term of office from 1692 to 1697. The building has been used for many different purposes over the years. It was a teacher-training college and an institute for the instruction of clergymen between 1696 and 1796. It was also used as a hospital. It became a barracks in the second half of the 1800s and 1900 it was used as a police training school, set up by the British. In 1932 it was converted to the Pettah Post Office. In 1971 following heavy monsoon rains one of the exterior walls collapsed and the building was abandoned. Following protests by the Royal Asiatic Society and the Dutch Burgher Union against plans to demolish the building, in 1973 a committee was established with representatives from the Ceylon Tourist Board, the Department of Archaeology, the Netherlands Alumni Association of Lanka and the National Archives, to restore the building and establish a museum covering the Dutch colonial period
Old Town Hall Museum in Colombo is a fascinating historical site. It is located at the end of Main Street in Pettah, slightly hidden among the bustling shopping streets. The building dates back to 1865 and was the first municipality of Colombo. It served as the office and chambers of the Colombo Municipal Council and also functioned as a courthouse. Architect J. G. Smither, a British architect, designed this colonial Dutch building. The wooden furniture inside matches the building's woodwork. The Old Town Hall remained active until 1928 when the New Town Hall was built. The Old Town Hall houses a modest museum on the ground floor, exhibiting preserved steam engines, machinery, and old equipment. In one of the rooms, life-size dolls sit around a wooden table, replicating a council meeting from 1906. Rumor has it that the council members come alive at night! Adjacent to the council chamber, there's a room with an old map of Colombo from 1785, antique typewriters, and an old radio. The architecture features arches, needle-point columns, crumbly yellow walls, and creaky staircases.
Colombo Maritime Museum is located at 19 Chaithya Road, Colombo, adjacent to the Colombo Port. The museum is housed in a former Dutch prison, built in 1676, which is the only surviving Dutch period building within the Colombo Port area. Various items of historical significance relating to the ports of the country, it’s maritime industry and the ocean around Sri Lanka are on display. Sculptures of King Vijeya and other significant characters are also on display along with model exhibits of ships.
Sri Lanka Air Force Museum (SLAF Museum) at Rathmalana exhibits island's long history in aviation both military and civil. The museum showcases aircrafts which are historically important including the machines used for the World Wars, and of course to fight the battle against terrorism