Maritime Museum of Sri Lanka opens in Galle

(February 27, Colombo - Lanka Polity)  Newly established one and only Marine Archaeological Museum in Galle built under a special grant of Rs. 177 million by the Netherlands Government will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 4, 2009.

The Marine Archeological Museum previously established in Galle was completely destroyed due to Tsunami tidal waves on December 26, 2004. The present museum is being established after renovating a massive old building constructed during the Dutch era situated within the historic Rampart of Galle.

The museum is 40-000 square feet in extent would display marine artifacts discovered in explorations made in the ocean floor around Sri Lanka. Nearly 200 artifacts discovered from the remains of ship sunk in the ocean nearly 800 ago are housed in the museum.

Plans are afoot to open the museum on all seven days of the week and on some days to stay open till 9.00 p.m. to feel surrounding of the Fort.