Colombo Port Maritime Museum

Colombo Port Maritime Museum is a museum housed in a restored colonial-era building on Chaithya Road, displaying seafaring equipment, model ships, and objects related to maritime history. The rooms present different themes about the island's sea-faring past and are arranged for visitor access.

The building was built by the Dutch in 1676 as a prison and served as a jail compound under colonial rule for centuries. Authorities transformed it into this museum in 2003 to document and preserve the island's maritime history.

The exhibits showcase sculptures and maritime objects that reflect Sri Lanka's long tradition of seafaring and exchange with distant lands. The artifacts reveal how the island played an important role in shipping and trade across centuries.

The museum sits directly in the port area and is easy to reach when heading toward the harbor from the city center. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and allow time to explore the different exhibition areas at a leisurely pace.

The building is one of the few surviving structures from the Dutch colonial period within the entire port area and shows how the city has preserved its earlier architecture. The restoration has made the original structures visible and given the place new purpose.

Inception: August 2003

Founders: Sri Lanka Ports Authority

GPS coordinates: 6.93858,79.84253

Latest update: December 14, 2025 15:00