Sri Lanka is a small island country that is probably one of the world’s best travel destinations. One reason is that this small country has over 2,000 years of recorded history and is rich in culture and ancient architecture. In the capital of Colombo, the best place to experience this history is the National Museum of Colombo.
Opened in 1877 and housed in a magnificent white colonial building, the national museum features an extensive collection of historical and anthropological exhibits. The most interesting artifacts include the golden throne of the King of Kandy, and stone statues and carvings from Sri Lanka’s ancient Anuradhapura (377 BC to 1017 AD) and Polonnaruva (1056 to 1236) periods.
The Kandy royal throne was taken by the British to Britain after they captured Kandy in 1815 before returning it to Sri Lanka in 1934. Kandy was the last independent Sri Lankan kingdom before its fall in 1815.
In general, the information displayed for the exhibits is not too intensive as it consists mainly of just object names and the time period which they were from.
The National Museum of Natural History is also located within the grounds in a separate building. Nowhere as grand as the National Museum of Colombo, it is old and features a small collection of preserved animals, stuffed animals, whale skeletons, and botany exhibits.
I had a weird experience because when I was inside, a staff called me and showed me around a bit, but when I was leaving, he asked me for a tip and I refused. He followed me and called me name while hiding behind a bush, which I found more hilarious than scary.
Throne of the King of Kandy, the last independent Sri Lanka kingdom until conquered by the British in 1815. Initially taken by the British back to Britain, it was returned to Sri Lanka in 1934. 
17th-18th AD Buddhist statue
Hindu shrine curtain of a 6-headed god seated atop a peacock 
Hindu Padma-Nidhi guardstone, 8th century AD
Decorative slab of soldier, 18th century AD
Tombstones with Arabic
Bodhisattva heads, 8th century AD
The museum grounds are pleasant to walk around.
Whale skeleton in the Museum of National History
