Colombo, the sunny capital of Sri Lanka, following the end of a thirty year civil war, has seen rapid upgrades and development. Now dotted with stylish galleries, eateries and shopping precincts, it has become a destination in itself. Whether you are in the island for a few days or a few weeks, why not rent a car? Sri Lanka, not just Colombo promises much that is worth exploring.
Sri Lanka’s national museum is located in the heart of the country’s capital. It is housed in a colonial type mansion that draws a strong influence from Italian architecture. The museum was founded in 1877 by Sir William Henry Gregory, who was the British governor in Ceylon at the time. When it was first opened to the public, the museum had just eight hundred exhibits on display, however today there are over one hundred thousand. The collection includes antiques and ancient artefacts that represent the country’s many historic kingdoms that were located in different parts of the country, at varying points in time. The displays may inspire visitors to follow the stories to their sources. Online Rent Car will provide you with a comfortable ride as you visit the ancient cities that to this day remain national treasures.
The museum, which is the country’s largest and most prestigious, was brought up to international level and given the status of national museum in the 1940s. Museum branches were also opened in Jaffna, Kandy and Ratnapura during this time; today there are nine in total. A school science programme and a mobile museum facility also function as an extension of the museum. The Colombo branch also houses a library of rare historical books. The museum is located on Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha and is open daily, except Fridays, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.
