Located within the UNESCO Heritage Galle Fort inside an old Dutch warehouse, The National Maritime Museum in the Galle building dates back to 1671. The building’s design is incorporated as part of the fortified ramparts that surround the Galle Fort, and the old gate where the British coat of arms and the VOC (an abbreviation for Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) the Dutch East India Company symbol is still visible to visitors.
The maritime museum features artefacts salvaged from vessels and wrecks that sunk off the coast including a Dutch merchant ship that sank right behind the Museum.
The tsunami of 2004 destroyed around 80% of the archeology unit artefacts belonging to the museum. Of the original 3600 artefacts only around 700 or so were recovered or restored.
After the damage of the tsunami, the Royal Government of Netherlands provided financial assistance to Sri Lanka to allow for the museum’s reconstruction, and it was reopened after three years. The Museum is now a centre of education and exhibits artefacts dating back 800 years from all over the island, including boats and crafts used in the South together with cultural lifestyle items of the local fishing communities.
The Museum exhibits marine artefacts discovered during underwater explorations and items salvaged during wrecks around the country. Maps, naval crafts, ropes, earthenware, beer mugs, smoking pipes, barrels, and many other items such as artillery guns and sailor shoes can be found here. There is also a model that shows how tsunamis occur and possibly the highlight of many and our favourite piece, a skeleton of a Byrd’s whale.
Queens St, Galle, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94912242261
E-mail: nmdep@slt.lk
Website: https://www.museum.gov.lk
Opening Hours: 9 am-4.30 pm Tue-Sat
Price: LKR 550 (Adults) LKR 300 (Children) (Prices current as of June 2024)