Anuradhapura is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province, Sri Lanka and the capital of Anuradhapura District. Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It was the third capital of the kingdom of Rajarata, following the kingdoms of Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara.
Tourism in Sri Lanka is growing rapidly. For centuries, Sri Lanka has been a popular place of attraction for foreign travelers. The Chinese traveler Fa-Hien visited Sri Lanka as early as the 4th century, and in the twelfth century, Italian explorer Marco Polo claimed Sri Lanka to be the "best island of its size in the world".
The National Maritime Museum in Galle, Sri Lanka is situated within Galle Fort. It was first opened to the public on 9 May 1992 and is located in a 1671 Dutch Warehouse above the Old Gate of Galle Fort. Whilst the building housing the museum survived the impact of the 26 December 2004 tsunami, the adjoining UNESCO Maritime Archaeology Unit was completely destroyed and all the exhibitions were flood damaged and the majority of maritime archeological artifacts were lost. Under Sri Lanka – Netherlands Cultural Co-operation Program, the Royal Government of Netherlands provided financial assistance for reconstruction of the Maritime Museum. After 3 years period of reconstruction, the Maritime Museum was re-opened to the public.
Fa Hien Cave, also Pahiyangala Cave is situated in the district of Kalutara, Western Province, Sri Lanka and according to a rural legend, named after an alleged resident during historical times, namely Buddhist monk Faxian. However, there is no archaeological or historical evidence to support this legend. Nonetheless, the site is of archaeological significance as Late Pleistocene human fossilized skeletal remains were discovered in the cave's sediments during excavations in the 1960s, the 1980s and in 2013.
Batadombalena is an archaeological site with evidence of habitation from 8,000 years BCE, Balangoda Man, located 85 km (52.8 mi) from Colombo in Sri Lanka, a two-hour drive from Colombo.
Belilena is a well known large cave in Sri Lanka, located 8 km (5.0 mi) from the town of Kitulgala. Evidence of prehistoric human presence as early as 32,000 years ago was recorded at the site. The skeletal remains of ten individuals were discovered by Paul E. P. Deraniyagala, who attributed them to Balangoda Man. Balangoda Man is assumed to have lived as early as 32,000 years ago and occupied high altitude territories of up to 2,000 ft (609.6 m) above sea level.
Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka. It is believed to be the site of Gautama Buddha's first visit to the country, and is one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred religious locations in Sri Lanka. Currently this temple has been declared as one of archaeological site in Sri Lanka.
The archaeological heritage of Sri Lanka is divided in to three ages as Prehistoric, Protohistoric and historical periods. The presence of man activities in Sri Lanka probably dates from 75,000 years ago. Prehistoric sites which are presently identified in the country are distributed from the maritime belt and the lowland plains of the wet and dry zones to the high plateaus and rain forest in the central and south western mountain region of the island. The protohistoric period expands from about 1000 BC to the historical period at about 500 BC. The main indicators of the distribution of protohistoric and early settlements in the island are the megalithic burials and pottery sites.
Jaffna Archaeological Museum is located in Nallur, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The land was given to museum by Arumuga Navalar Foundation, and front portion has Navalar Cultural Hall. The museum houses a rare collection of antiquities. Buddhist and Hindu religious collection are in big collection, which are in various forms of metal, wood and stone. The excellent collections begin in time from the period of ancient period Sri Lanka to the colonial era. Also, some of the archaeological excavations findings of Kandarodai can seen at this museum.
Buduruwagala Archaeological Museum is a regional museum located in Buduruwagala, Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1988 and owned by Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Mulgirigala Archaeological Museum is a site museum located at Mulkirigala, Sri Lanka. It was maintained by Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum is one of the archaeological museums of Sri Lanka. It is situated in the old kachcheri building, between the Brazon palace and Ruwanwelisaya. The museum was established in 1947 under the prime effort of Dr. Senarath Paranavithana. Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest museum in the Cultural Triangle area and it has been proposed to name as the National Museum of the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Mihintale Archaeological Museum is an archaeological museum in Mihintale, Sri Lanka. The museum was built in 1984 and is maintained by Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Isurumuniya Archaeological Museum is a site museum located in Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka. It was established in Isurumuni vihara in 1984. The museum is maintained by Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Vavuniya Archaeological Museum is a regional museum located in Vavuniya town, Sri Lanka. It was founded and owned by Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka. This regional museum covers and exhibits archaeological objects that found in Vavuniya area and its surroundings.
Hatthikuchchi Archaeological Museum is one of the archaeological museums in Hatthikuchchi, Sri Lanka. The museum has been categorised as a site museum. It was built in 1990 at Tambutta, Mailewa area close to Haththikuchchi Vihara. Although today the museum has been established close to the Haththikuchchi Vihara premises. The museum is maintained by the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka.
Panduwasnuwara Archaeological Museum is an archaeological Museum in Panduwasnuwara, Sri Lanka. It is located at Kotampitiya junction on Kurunegala-Chilaw road, near to the ancient shrine Panduwasnuwara Raja Maha Vihara. The museum serve as the regional museum for North Western Province of the country and is maintained by Archaeological department of Sri Lanka.
Kotte Museum 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 museum serves as the regional museum for Western Province of the country and is maintained by Archaeological department of Sri Lanka.
