National Museum of Galle

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The National Museum of Galle is situated in Church Street in Galle Fort. It is located in the oldest remaining Dutch building in Galle Fort. The building dates back to 1656 but the museum opened in 1986 by the Department of National Museums. The museum exhibits various collections from the Portuguese, Dutch and British eras. It consists of three sections. The first gallery has exhibits related to turtle shell jewelry manufacturing, Beeralu lace weaving, cottage industry and traditional wooden mask carving. The second gallery has exhibits related to the Dutch period such as furniture and weaponry. The third gallery is known as the “Sri Lanka China Friendship Gallery” and is dedicated to the archeologically and historically important relations between Sri Lanka and China. Representing the cultural heritage of the Southern province, as well as Galle with the colonial eras of Portuguese, Dutch & British. As well as a longterm relationship between China & Sri Lanka. There are 3 Galleries at the museum & the first gallery representing the endemic rural industries in the Galle area.which are Ebony wood carvings, Ivory carvings & Jewelry,Turtle shell industrial instruments & Turtle shell jewellery & stuff, Beautiful Masks & Paintings, Lace & Brass artefacts. The second gallery shows you all the colonial-era artefacts, relics as well as weapons. Like Portuguese, Dutch, British, Indian, Malay & Sinhalese Swords, Guns, Canon balls, Gun powder holders, ancient water clocks, A massive scale that has been used by a local family to export heavy ebony wood carved elephants, massive vessels carrying chair of a local Buddhist monk, dutch period VOC coins, a 1st stone, Kandyan era eve tiles & some dutch ceramic artefacts.The last Gallery is about the long term relationship between China & Sri Lanka. Where you can see some ancient Chinese coins that has been found in excavations around Sri Lanka as well as two big ceramic lions which are found from an excavation, then a replica of a triangular stone inscription which has been established in Galle by the Chinese Royal Navy Admiral "Zen-Hai" on his 2nd journey to Sri Lanka, describing a massive donation to a local temple to get blessings from the Lord "Vishnu",

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