The Colombo Museum

Set amidst tall flowering trees in Campbell Park on the northern edge of the city's Cinnamon Gardens district, the Colombo Museum, Sri Lanka's finest museum, is a grand colonial building with a relaxed, Italianate charm.

It houses many of the island's historical treasures, such as archaic palm leaf manuscripts, antique porcelain, rock sculptures from ancient cities, royal regalia, and an excellent collection of demon masks. Erected at the request of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, it was declared open in 1877. Designed by James Smithers, an architect then working with the Public Works Department, it was constructed by Wapchi Marikar Baas (later knighted as Sir Razik Fareed). Pleased at the quality of the construction, the Governor asked Marikar Baas what favour he desired for constructing so fine a building. Marikar requested that the Museum remain closed on Fridays, so as not to distract Colombo's Muslim community from their weekly prayers. To honour his request, the Museum still closes to public every Friday.