THE COLOMBO NATIONAL MUSEUM SRI LANKA.
By- Dr, K.M. Alexander,Introduction
The Colombo National Museum of Sri Lanka was established on 1st January 1877 during the tenure of office of the British Colonial Governor Sir William Henry Gregory who ruled Sri Lanka from 1872 to 1877. This Museum was the first public museum in Sri Lanka. It is situated at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha in Colombo 07. The Colombo National Museum belongs to the group of museums established in many South Asian countries in the latter part of the nineteenth century under British colonial period. It is not older than the Indian Museum in Calcutta, but it is almost contemporaneous with the National Museum in Singapore. It is however older than most museums in this region
When the National Museum was open in 1877 it had a collection of about 808 items of antiquities and about 384 Natural History Specimens. In 1986 when it was deemed that the exhibits relating to the natural heritage of the country were too numerous to be displayed in one building, the natural history collection was separated and house in another building which has come to be known as the National Museum of Natural History (The proposal to establish a Museum of Science and Technology-Sessional Paper 1976, 1-56).
The aim of the Colombo National Museum is to create a collection for purposes of documentation, cataloging, conservation, storage, research and exhibition of artifacts, specimens, books, and manuscripts, along with other documents on natural and cultural heritage, science and technology for the benefit of the people. The museum also conducts lectures, film shows, seminars and many educational programmes to disseminate knowledge pertaining to the history and culture of Sri Lanka and its national heritage.
Historical Background
The desire of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon was used before independence in Sri Lanka, 1948) to have a permanent building in 1854 took in 1872 the form of more serious agitation for a public Museum culminating in a deputation being led before Governor Sir William Henry Gregory by Colonel A. B. Fyers, the President of the Society. Royal Asiatic Society was an organization that was formed among the Asian countries ruled by the British. Under this society there were separate branches for each colonial country. All the European officers serving public service in these countries under British Government were members of this society. The Society was founded in 1845 as the Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Island, known as the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in Sri Lanka. (International Association of Orientalist Librarians IAOL Bulletin (1998)43:9-17) .From 1815 to 1948 Sri Lanka was a colonial country ruled under British government. (The history of Ceylon, 1974, 161) It is reported that there was a large collection of antiquities and specimens of natural sciences gathered by the officers who served public service in different parts of rural areas in Sri Lanka during the British era. The Ceylon Branch of Royal Asiatic Society had possessed a large number of those antiquities and specimens of natural sciences in the year of 1850. Therefore the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch demanded the British rulers several times for a permanent place to keep and preserve these antiquities and specimens. The British government didn’t agree it at once because their main target was to gain maximum economical advantages of those countries. Mean while Sir William Henry Gregory was being appointed as The Governor of Ceylon in 1872, and The Governor being a man of erudition and scholarship himself, And who had a good knowledge of history, culture and natural heritage, was quick to appreciate this request (Silva; 1976, 39-40).
The Governor made a program including a sum of Rs.50, 000 under new public works for a Museum as the President of the Legislative Council on 25th September, 1872 and the speeches made by him both on this occasion as well as at the closure of the debate are particularly significant. Not only did he make a strong plea for a Museum but also outline its scope and its role in the life of the nation. This motion to establish a Museum by The Governor did not have an easy passage in the Legislative Council. Therefore the two speeches made by The Governor on this occasion are proof of his intellectual attainments and his admirable perception of cultural and aesthetic values. There appears to be on doubt that this occasion provided The Governor an excellent opportunity to express his deep knowledge on the subject, one which appears to have been very close to his heart. However Sir Gregory had to make a statement on the construction of the Museum building that every thing is done under his supervision at a low cost (Silva; 1976, 39-40).
The first reading of "An ordinance to provide for the establishment and regulations of a Public Museum in Colombo" was moved in the Ceylon Legislative Council on August 4th 1873 by the Council Secretary, Hon: Arthur N. Birch and seconded by the Queen’s Advocate, Hon: R.F. Morgan. At the second reading of the Bill which was taken up on the same month of 6th, The Bill was referred to a committee consisting of Hon: R. F. Morgan, the Queen’s Advocate, Hon: David Wilson, the Surveyor General and Mr. Chas Ferdinands. The recommendations of this committee were brought up at the Ceylon Legislative Council on September 3rd 1873 and the Bill was read for the third time and approved (Administration Report of the Director of Colombo National Museum, for 1877). .
The first building of the Colombo National Museum was an imposing and majestic two storey building designed in the Italian style by the architect of the then public works Department, James G. Smither. Construction of the building was probably commenced in 1874 and the work completed in 1876. The original building was surrounded by a seven acre piece of land in heart of the Colombo city. It is now among the historically rich monuments in the Colombo city. The National Museum of Colombo was opened for public on 1st of January in 1877. When the museum was opened it had about 1200 collection of antiquities and natural history specimens. Since then both these divisions developed so quickly, till 1970 after which the museum expanded step by step according to the necessity of the Museum. The Science and Technology Museum building was built in 1986 for nearly 95 years latter the first Museum Building was built. It consists of a large amount of specimens related to Zoology, Entomology, Botany and Geology. But the Technology Museum gallery has been opened for the public service since 2000 as a basic stage. Likewise another two buildings of four stories were opened in year of 2002 at the 125 anniversary of the Colombo National Museum. These building complexes consist of high quality antiquity stores, laboratories facilities and an auditorium (Colombo National Museum 125th Anniversary, 2002)
Former Directors
Dr. Amyrald Haly was appointed by the secretary of state as the first Director of the Colombo National Museum in 25th June 1875, before the Museum was opened. He worked with considerable zeal and devotion so that when he retired after 26 years (1877-1901) of dedicated service he had elevated the Colombo National Museum to international status. After that Dr.Arthur Willey (1902-1909) was the director. He launched a magazine of Spolia Zeylanica while he was the Director in power of the Colombo National Museum. Dr Arthur Willey was also appointed as a Marine biologist by the British government. Dr. J. Pearson (1901-1933) and Mr. A. H. M. Malpas (1993-1939) were directors of the Museum. Dr. Pearson and Mr. Malpas both served as the Government Marine Biologists. All of those directors were Europeans and as well as the Architect James G. Smither (Silva; 1976, 43-44).
The first Sri Lankan Museum Director was Dr. P.E.P. Deraniyagala who came to that post in 1939 and retired in 1963. He saw to the enactment of the National Museum Ordinance in 1942 which converted the Colombo Museum into a National Museum and allowed the establishment of Branch National Museums in the provinces, under the provisions of this Ordinance. He established branch museums at Kandy, Jaffana, and Rathnapura. All these Institutions were also brought under the administrative control of a new department, Department of National Museum. Director of the Colombo National Museum became the Director of the National Museum Department (Colombo National Museum Act 1942; No, 31). Since then native Sri Lankans became the directors in the Department of National Museum of Colombo.
The Department of Colombo National Museum could be considered as a place which is remembered eternally within the Museum tradition of Sri Lanka. This museum is not only exhibit antiquities but also a place where researches being carried out in the field of science. The institutional structure of the Department of Colombo National Museum is as follows.
Institutional Structure
When the National Museum was open in 1877 it had a collection of about 808 items of antiquities and about 384 Natural History Specimens. In 1986 when it was deemed that the exhibits relating to the natural heritage of the country were too numerous to be displayed in one building, the natural history collection was separated and house in another building which has come to be known as the National Museum of Natural History (The proposal to establish a Museum of Science and Technology-Sessional Paper 1976, 1-56).
Historical Background
The desire of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon was used before independence in Sri Lanka, 1948) to have a permanent building in 1854 took in 1872 the form of more serious agitation for a public Museum culminating in a deputation being led before Governor Sir William Henry Gregory by Colonel A. B. Fyers, the President of the Society. Royal Asiatic Society was an organization that was formed among the Asian countries ruled by the British. Under this society there were separate branches for each colonial country. All the European officers serving public service in these countries under British Government were members of this society. The Society was founded in 1845 as the Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Island, known as the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in Sri Lanka. (International Association of Orientalist Librarians IAOL Bulletin (1998)43:9-17) .From 1815 to 1948 Sri Lanka was a colonial country ruled under British government. (The history of Ceylon, 1974, 161) It is reported that there was a large collection of antiquities and specimens of natural sciences gathered by the officers who served public service in different parts of rural areas in Sri Lanka during the British era. The Ceylon Branch of Royal Asiatic Society had possessed a large number of those antiquities and specimens of natural sciences in the year of 1850. Therefore the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch demanded the British rulers several times for a permanent place to keep and preserve these antiquities and specimens. The British government didn’t agree it at once because their main target was to gain maximum economical advantages of those countries. Mean while Sir William Henry Gregory was being appointed as The Governor of Ceylon in 1872, and The Governor being a man of erudition and scholarship himself, And who had a good knowledge of history, culture and natural heritage, was quick to appreciate this request (Silva; 1976, 39-40).
The Governor made a program including a sum of Rs.50, 000 under new public works for a Museum as the President of the Legislative Council on 25th September, 1872 and the speeches made by him both on this occasion as well as at the closure of the debate are particularly significant. Not only did he make a strong plea for a Museum but also outline its scope and its role in the life of the nation. This motion to establish a Museum by The Governor did not have an easy passage in the Legislative Council. Therefore the two speeches made by The Governor on this occasion are proof of his intellectual attainments and his admirable perception of cultural and aesthetic values. There appears to be on doubt that this occasion provided The Governor an excellent opportunity to express his deep knowledge on the subject, one which appears to have been very close to his heart. However Sir Gregory had to make a statement on the construction of the Museum building that every thing is done under his supervision at a low cost (Silva; 1976, 39-40).
The first reading of "An ordinance to provide for the establishment and regulations of a Public Museum in Colombo" was moved in the Ceylon Legislative Council on August 4th 1873 by the Council Secretary, Hon: Arthur N. Birch and seconded by the Queen’s Advocate, Hon: R.F. Morgan. At the second reading of the Bill which was taken up on the same month of 6th, The Bill was referred to a committee consisting of Hon: R. F. Morgan, the Queen’s Advocate, Hon: David Wilson, the Surveyor General and Mr. Chas Ferdinands. The recommendations of this committee were brought up at the Ceylon Legislative Council on September 3rd 1873 and the Bill was read for the third time and approved (Administration Report of the Director of Colombo National Museum, for 1877). .
The first building of the Colombo National Museum was an imposing and majestic two storey building designed in the Italian style by the architect of the then public works Department, James G. Smither. Construction of the building was probably commenced in 1874 and the work completed in 1876. The original building was surrounded by a seven acre piece of land in heart of the Colombo city. It is now among the historically rich monuments in the Colombo city. The National Museum of Colombo was opened for public on 1st of January in 1877. When the museum was opened it had about 1200 collection of antiquities and natural history specimens. Since then both these divisions developed so quickly, till 1970 after which the museum expanded step by step according to the necessity of the Museum. The Science and Technology Museum building was built in 1986 for nearly 95 years latter the first Museum Building was built. It consists of a large amount of specimens related to Zoology, Entomology, Botany and Geology. But the Technology Museum gallery has been opened for the public service since 2000 as a basic stage. Likewise another two buildings of four stories were opened in year of 2002 at the 125 anniversary of the Colombo National Museum. These building complexes consist of high quality antiquity stores, laboratories facilities and an auditorium (Colombo National Museum 125th Anniversary, 2002)
Former Directors
Dr. Amyrald Haly was appointed by the secretary of state as the first Director of the Colombo National Museum in 25th June 1875, before the Museum was opened. He worked with considerable zeal and devotion so that when he retired after 26 years (1877-1901) of dedicated service he had elevated the Colombo National Museum to international status. After that Dr.Arthur Willey (1902-1909) was the director. He launched a magazine of Spolia Zeylanica while he was the Director in power of the Colombo National Museum. Dr Arthur Willey was also appointed as a Marine biologist by the British government. Dr. J. Pearson (1901-1933) and Mr. A. H. M. Malpas (1993-1939) were directors of the Museum. Dr. Pearson and Mr. Malpas both served as the Government Marine Biologists. All of those directors were Europeans and as well as the Architect James G. Smither (Silva; 1976, 43-44).
The first Sri Lankan Museum Director was Dr. P.E.P. Deraniyagala who came to that post in 1939 and retired in 1963. He saw to the enactment of the National Museum Ordinance in 1942 which converted the Colombo Museum into a National Museum and allowed the establishment of Branch National Museums in the provinces, under the provisions of this Ordinance. He established branch museums at Kandy, Jaffana, and Rathnapura. All these Institutions were also brought under the administrative control of a new department, Department of National Museum. Director of the Colombo National Museum became the Director of the National Museum Department (Colombo National Museum Act 1942; No, 31). Since then native Sri Lankans became the directors in the Department of National Museum of Colombo.
The Department of Colombo National Museum could be considered as a place which is remembered eternally within the Museum tradition of Sri Lanka. This museum is not only exhibit antiquities but also a place where researches being carried out in the field of science. The institutional structure of the Department of Colombo National Museum is as follows.
Institutional Structure
The Department of Colombo National Museum
Museums Scientific and Research Sections Other Sections
Colombo National Museum Ethnology Section National Museum Library
Natural History Museum Anthropology Section Conservation Section
Entomology Section Education and Publication Section
Zoology Section Photography Section
Botany Section Micro Film Section
Geology Section Information Technology Section
Natural History Museum Anthropology Section Conservation Section
Entomology Section Education and Publication Section
Zoology Section Photography Section
Botany Section Micro Film Section
Geology Section Information Technology Section
There are few branch museums under the administration of Colombo National Museum Department in some provinces of Sri Lanka. National Museum Galle and Maritime Museum Galle (Galle town) in Southern Province Folk Museum Anuradhapura (Anuradhapura ancient city) in North Central Province, the Dutch Period Museum (Colombo City) in Western Province. (This Museum is housed in the old "Dutch House" which was earlier the residence of Count August Carl Ven. Ranzow .The Museum displays Dutch legacy through artifacts such as furniture, ceramics, coins, arms etc. All exhibition antiquities items were from Dutch in ancient time during their administration period (1767-1796) in Sri Lanka). Walisinhe Harischandra Memorial Museum, Katana (Negambo) in Western Province. National Museum Jaffna (Jaffna city) in North East Province witch is at present is not functioning due to the civil war (with Tamil Tiger Terrorist) prevailing in North East Province of Sri Lanka for more than 25 years.
Collections
There are two main collections of museum objects in the Colombo National Museum in the fields of Ethnology and Anthropology in the Cultural Section. This cultural collection is a famous and an important part of the Colombo National Museum which reflects the identity of the Sri Lankan heritage. This large gathering of museums objects existing in various fields related to the Ethnology and Anthropology divisions are categorized in materialize wise and subject wise as follows.
There are two main collections of museum objects in the Colombo National Museum in the fields of Ethnology and Anthropology in the Cultural Section. This cultural collection is a famous and an important part of the Colombo National Museum which reflects the identity of the Sri Lankan heritage. This large gathering of museums objects existing in various fields related to the Ethnology and Anthropology divisions are categorized in materialize wise and subject wise as follows.Ethnological Anthropology
Stone Antiquities Agricultural Implements
Ivory Objects Traditional Marks
Bronze Objects Traditional Household Utensils
Brassware Traditional Indoor Games
Jewelers and Silverware Weights and Measures
Arms and Weapons Ritual Objects
Paintings, Prints and Maps Musical and Dancing Instruments
Pottery Indigenous Medicine Objects
Ceramics Traditional Mats
Wood Carvings Traditional Packing Materials
Furniture Objects used by Vadda (aborigines in Sri Lanka) Community
Exhibition galleries in the Colombo National Museum
1. Evolution of the Buddha Image
2. Pre Historical and Proto-Historical period in Sri Lanka
3. Historical periods in Sri Lanka
4. Coins and Currency
5. Craft of Sri Lanka
6. Ceramics ware
7. Regalia and Jewellery
8. Stone Antiquities
9. Ancient Lamps
10. Paintings
11. Traditional Marks in Sri Lanka
12. Furniture
13. Instruments of Traditional Music and Dancing
14. Puppetry
15. Agricultural Implements
16. Special Exhibition- The Heritage of the Sri Lanka Bronze Sculpture
The Colombo National Museum housed many exhibits exceeding over one thousand items that provided an insight to the history of the country. They presented a fine testimony to the glory and the grandeur of our ancient civilization. Most of these collections do not have parallels anywhere in the island. This museum possesses a number of exquisite sculptures of Sri Lanka, both in stone and in bronze. Most Significant among them is the large Samadhi Buddha Image which was found in Toluvila, an ancient Archaeological site near Anuradhapura in North Central province. This is one of the best preserved ancient Buddha image so far found in Sri Lanka. Some of other wonderful items in stone in the museum are the rock inscriptions. These show the evolution of the Sinhala script from Brahmi script. Among other items of interest are Guard Stone, Moon Stone, plaques and stone pillars. These could be considered as unique creations of the stone sculpture in Sri Lanka (Colombo National Museum, Department of National Museum, 2000).
The stone gallery of the Colombo National Museum is as old as the Museum itself as it was declared open to the public in 1877 during the governorship of Sir Henry William Gregory, whose enthusiasm resulted in a continuous propose of collection significant stone artifacts that remained in the jungle of ancient cities like Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The artifacts thus gathered, ranging from religious icons(Buddhist and Hindu), architectural members of edifices, architectonic and decorative sculptures, historic documents in the form of stone pillar and slab inscriptions of old Sinhalese, Tamil, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, and British, household utensils, etc., constituted a medley, concealing their significance. Buddhist sculpture include in Icons of Buddha, Bodhisattva and other divinities, Symbols (foot prints and relic caskets)decorative elements of the flights of steps of ancient monuments(guard stones, Moonstone and balustrades) directional animals etc. In Hindu section includes Hindu god-heads of Shiva, Vishnu and other Gods of Hindu, among the collection of stone (Prematileke Leelananda; 2006, 1-2).
Decorative sculptures mainly consist of freezes of processions with dancers and drummers, rows of dancing dwarfs, lions and elephants, votive offerings, slabs etc., while Architectural members include beautifully decorated array of pillars, doorways, windows, railings, urinals etc. The stone epigraphs of the Stone Gallery are excellent historical documents of on mean significance. (Prematileke Leelananda; 20063).
The seated Buddha image from Badulla in Uva Province, the Bodhisattva Image from Veheragala in North Central Province and the Goddess Tara and Siva Nataraja are some of the beautiful unique Buddha and Hindu icons among the collection of Bronze.
The collection of Ivory carvings preserved in the Colombo National Museum is perhaps the best to be seen in any museum in the world. The seated and stand Buddha Images, Kings and Queens Figures, decorated motifs and flowers, ancient medical instruments, decorated combs, decorated boxes with ivory carvings and various types of antiquities are among the collection of the ivory carvings.
Some of the most popular exhibits are the Gold Throne of the last king of Kandy period, (Last King of Sri Lanka) the Crown, the Sword, and the Footstool of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and the Jacket of his Queen. The King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe ruled Sri Lanka from 1778-1798 AD (Karal Liyadda; 2003, 4). In colonial time these superior Royal antiquities were taken to Britain. In 1934 The Throne, The Crown, The Sword and The Footstool of last King of Kandy which since his deposition in 1815 had rested at Windsor Castle were returned to Sri Lanka. These Royal objects came subsequently to be deposited at the Colombo National Museum.
The collection of ancient coins from 3rd Century B.C. to the contemporary times exceeds over sixty thousand in the Colombo National Museum. It was probably the best collection of ancient Sri Lankan coins. (Codrington; 1924, 1-40)
A large number of valuable paintings representative of traditional Art of Sri Lanka are on display in the Colombo National Museum. Among them are the paintings belonging to the traditional styles of Sigiriya, Hindagala, Polpnnaruwa and Kandy as well. It affords a fine sampling on the development of art in Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to Kandy Period. Sigiri paintings are the famous frescoes in 5th century AD of Sri Lanka as well as some paintings of Hindagala. Polonnaruwa paintings belong to 12th century in Polonnaruwa period. Kandy paintings belong to 17- 18-19 centuries AD in Sri Lanka.
A wonderful collection of folk arts and crafts too are on exhibition. These crafts depict the daily life of the Sri Lankan people through the ages. Among them are the Kolam and Masks connected with traditional dancing as well as large number of musical instruments.
Special Exhibition
The exhibition named Heritage of "Bronze Sculpture in Sri Lanka" opened in 1995 is still on. It includes a vast number of superior art work connected with the ancient culture of Sri Lanka. This is a must for all those who wish to get a glimpse of Sri Lankan culture and art. These artifacts on display to large appreciate audience in many foreign countries were brought back to Sri Lanka and are on display attracting appreciative comments from the Local visitors as well as visitors from abroad.
Museum Library
The National Museum library was open on the same day as the Museum established on 1st January 1877. The idea of establishing a library was contemporaneous with that of the Museum and the discussions in the Legislative Council on the establishment of the Museum also included the establishment of the Library. The Government Oriental Library (1870) was incorporated in to this library. At the beginning it possessed government oriental books collection and the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch books collection (Silva; 1976, 78). This is a pioneering library in South Asian countries. The museum has entire range of documents from the first works of 1737 to the latest publication. It has over one million titles now including a large number of rare books and periodicals.
Bibliography
Administration Report of the Director of Colombo National Museum, for 1877
Arsarathnam; S., 1996, Dutch Power in Sri Lanka 1658-1687, Colombo
Codrington; H.W., 1924, Ceylon Coins and Currency, Colombo
Colombo National Museum Act 1942, No 31
Colombo National Museum125th Anniversary 2002
Department of Colombo National Museum 2002
De Silva; P.H.D.H., 1976, Colombo Museum Hundred Years 1877-1977 Souvenir, Colombo
Encyclopedia Americana: Vol.16, New York, 1950
International Association of Orientalist Librarians IAOL Bulletin (1998)43
Karal Liyadda; S.B., 2003, The Last King of Kandy, Colombo
Prematilaka Leelananda., 2002, The Stone Gallery of the National Museum Colombo
The History of Ceylon, 1974, Ed. Donald Ferguson. New Delhi, India
The Proposal to Establish a Museum of Science and Technology-Sessional Paper 1970
