Museum's in Sri lanka (Part 2)

National Museum- Colombo
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


National Museum of Natural History-Colombo
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.



The Dutch Period Museum - Colombo
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.



Kandy
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.

Ratnapura
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.