Archaeology National Museum Kotte

Archaeology National Museum

Secure Parking

Watching Time : 2 or 3 Hours

Amazing Experience

Situated in Ethul Kotte, in the heart of our capital, is the E.W. Perera Memorial Kotte Archaeological Museum on land donated by one  of Kotte’s greatest sons, E.W. Perera (1875-1953), barrister, elected state counsellor and freedom fighter, also known as ‘The Lion of Kotte.’ It contains a variety of artefacts recovered from Kotte and elsewhere, including various regional flags, local costumes, weapons, pottery, chinaware and a collection of coins and other relics.

An interesting collection of miniature statues is also on display. An ivory Samadhi Buddha, a wooden standing Buddha found near the Kotte Dalada Medura, a limestone Samadhi Buddha, a metal kneeling figure, a female figurine and a bell with a carved handle in the shape of a human figure from the ancient Mahasen Devmedura.

From the later era came coins and coin moulds, rings from Uraketa wells, clay pipes, tiles and strands of hair from some Portuguese individuals who were buried in Kotte, silver wine cup, metal chunam pouches, silver bangles, bead chains, hair ornaments out of turtle shell, a few firearms including a particularly long double-barrelled pistol. Colonial-period clothes are also on display. Long-sleeved white jackets embellished with lace and adorned with floral motifs and many other items of clothing were influenced by the European colonial forces from Portugal, the Netherlands, and Great Britain.

Opening Hours

Sunday : 8 AM – 4 PM
Monday : 8 AM – 4 PM
Tuesday : 8 AM – 4 PM
Wednesday : 8 AM – 4 PM
Thursday : 8 AM – 4 PM
Friday : 8 AM – 4 PM
Saturday : 8 AM – 4 PM

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, LK
25°
Fair
06:2318:23 +0530
Feels like: 25°C
Wind: 5km/h NNE
Humidity: 98%
Pressure: 1006.77mbar
UV index: 0

Tour Map

Gallery

  • Good to have something of the kotte kingdom

    Milinda Huruggamuwa Avatar Milinda Huruggamuwa

    Open everyday except Tuesdays. Closed specially on April 13th,14th and 1st of May. Archeological exhibits of Kotte era can be observed. No entrance fee is charged and the staff is supportive.... read more

    Gihan Viraj Avatar Gihan Viraj
  • 沒有logesan

    Shanu Appu Avatar Shanu Appu

    A lot to see though its a small museum.

    Srinath Obeysekara Avatar Srinath Obeysekara
  • Memories ❤️ History

    Roshan Lakmal Avatar Roshan Lakmal

    Very informative. Good place to be.

    Ravi Karunasiri Avatar Ravi Karunasiri
  • Lassana

    Disna disna Avatar Disna disna

    Good place to get knowledge about Kotte kingdom period in Sri Lanka. .. there is lots of valuable artifacts that shows archaeological evidences in Kotte ..

    Pavithra Jayawickrama Avatar Pavithra Jayawickrama
  • This small museum, located in an old house, isn't well known and neither is the Kingdom of Kotte. Most of the palace and other structures were destroyed by the Portuguese... read more

    Michael Rohan Sourjah Avatar Michael Rohan Sourjah

    Nice place

    Madura Perera Avatar Madura Perera
  • Best place to enjoy the history of the kingdom of Kotte

    Adeesha Dulanjana Avatar Adeesha Dulanjana

    Small but very informative collection.. Visit this place if you are a museum person.. This has a nice collection of old flags in sri lanka. Old textiles and ancient artifacts belongings... read more

    Vimansa Vidu Avatar Vimansa Vidu
  • Archaeological museum for kotte era. Lots of Man made artifacts represents of kotte kingdom .

    SURANGA JAYASINGHE Avatar SURANGA JAYASINGHE

    ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ පිහිටුවා ඇති පුරාවිද්‍යා කෞතුකාගාරය වේ. එය බොරැල්ල-පිටකෝට්ටේ ප්‍රධාන මාර්ගයේ, ඇතුල් කෝට්ටේ පිහිටි බංගලා හන්දිය ආසන්නයේ පිහිටා ඇත. කෞතුකාගාරය, බස්නාහිර පළාතේ කලාපීය පුරාවිද්‍යා කෞතුකාගාරය ලෙස, පුරාවිද්‍යා... read more

    Tharuka Nethsarani Avatar Tharuka Nethsarani
  • I think everyone in the area must visit this place.

    Kushan Thilanga Avatar Kushan Thilanga

    Small place but worth the visit. Can part the vehicle inside. Entrance free.

    Prageeth Gunasekara Avatar Prageeth Gunasekara
  • A very attractive place for people who seek information. A good collection of artifacts. It’s free and worthwhile visiting. There is a bookshop where you can buy many books published... read more

    Shayan Appuhamy Avatar Shayan Appuhamy

    Not crowded at all. Good place to study old Sri lankan flags and guns. There is a small archaeology library and book shop.

    Ashan Dimal Avatar Ashan Dimal
  • A must visit place in Kotte. You can see some valuable antiques. There isn't too much but still I can assure that this place is a must watch location if... read more

    Thilina M Liyanage Avatar Thilina M Liyanage

    Kotte Museum (Sinhalese: කෝට්ටේ කෞතුකාගාරය) is an archaeological Museum in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka. It is located at Bangala junction in Ethul Kotte, on the Borella-Pitakotte main road. The... read more

    Roshan Sanjaya Thrimanna Avatar Roshan Sanjaya Thrimanna
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