National Museum of Colombo

“This museum holds the throne and crown of Sri Lanka's last king, surrendered when the British ended over 2,000 years of island monarchy in 1815.”

About National Museum of Colombo

The museum was founded in 1877 under British governor Sir William Gregory, in a purpose-built colonial mansion. Over time it became the national repository for Sri Lanka's heritage, gathering treasures from the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa and from the Kandyan court. The regalia of the last king of Kandy, whose fall in 1815 ended native rule, are among its most poignant holdings.

What National Museum of Colombo is

The National Museum of Colombo, also called the Sri Lanka National Museum, is the largest museum in the country, housed in an elegant white colonial building dating from 1877. It tells the island's story from prehistory through its great kingdoms to the colonial era, with a collection that includes the royal regalia of Sri Lanka's last independent monarch.

The Last King's Throne

Among the museum's most significant treasures are the throne and crown of the Kingdom of Kandy, the regalia of the last king of Sri Lanka. When the British took the Kandyan kingdom in 1815, ending more than two thousand years of indigenous monarchy on the island, these symbols of sovereignty passed into colonial hands and were later returned and displayed here. They sit alongside ancient sculpture, royal weapons, masks and artefacts spanning the island's history.

The Experience

You walk grand colonial halls displaying stone Buddhas, bronzes, royal thrones, traditional masks, weapons and jewellery that trace thousands of years of island civilisation. The Kandyan regalia are a highlight, as are the ancient sculptures from the ruined cities. The museum gives essential context for travels to Sri Lanka's archaeological sites and a clear sense of its long, layered history.

Why It Matters

As the keeper of Sri Lanka's national heritage, the museum is the best single place to understand the island's history, from its ancient Buddhist kingdoms to the end of its monarchy under colonial rule. The last king's regalia make tangible the moment Sri Lanka lost its independence.

Why Visit

Sri Lanka's flagship museum and the regalia of its last king, a rich introduction to the island's ancient kingdoms and history before touring its archaeological sites.