Independence Square and the Colombo National Museum
A memorial hall modelled on a Kandyan audience hall, a landscaped square, and the island’s main national museum, with the Kandyan regalia, a short ride apart.
What Independence Square and the National Museum actually are
Independence Square, formerly Torrington Square, sits in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo’s leafy colonial-era district. Its centrepiece is the Independence Memorial Hall, built to mark independence from Britain on 4 February 1948. Construction began in 1949 and was completed in 1953. The design follows the Magul Maduwa, the royal audience hall at Kandy where the Kandyan Convention was signed in 1815, and a statue of D. S. Senanayake, the first prime minister, stands at its head. A small Independence Memorial Museum sits beneath the hall.
The square is mainly a park: people jog, cycle and picnic. One side holds Arcade Independence Square, a cafe and shopping complex in refurbished colonial buildings that once housed the Jawatta asylum and, later, the Auditor General’s office.
The Colombo National Museum, a short ride away, is the main reason to come. It was opened in January 1877 under Governor Sir William Gregory, in an Italian-style building planned by James George Smither. Its best-known holdings are the regalia of the Kandyan kings and the throne of the last King of Kandy, which Britain returned. Galleries run in historical order on the ground floor, with themes upstairs.
Worth your attention
The Kandyan regalia and throne
The royal regalia and the throne of the last King of Kandy are the museum’s centrepiece. Give them the time you saved by skipping the rest.
The memorial hall’s design
Built in the manner of Kandy’s Magul Maduwa, with a statue of D. S. Senanayake at its head. Better from outside than inside.
The museum’s galleries
Ground-floor galleries follow a historical sequence; upper floors are arranged by theme. Pick two or three rather than trying everything.
Arcade Independence Square
The restored asylum and Auditor General’s buildings, now cafes and shops, are a pleasant place to stop for coffee.
Before you go
Do this
- Do the museum first, when it is cooler and quieter
- Head for the Kandyan section and spend most of your time there
- Walk or cycle the square’s paths in the late afternoon
- Stop at the Arcade for coffee between the two
- Check the museum’s current opening days before you go; public holidays close it
Know this first
- Some galleries have been closed for renovation in the past, so not every section may be open
- Public holidays and Poya days close the museum
- The Independence Memorial Museum below the hall is small and not the main draw
- The square is busiest around National Day on 4 February, when access may be restricted
Getting to Independence Square and the Colombo National Museum
Most people see Independence Square and the Colombo National Museum as part of a stay around Colombo. Our Colombo guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Colombo — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Colombo guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
Independence Square and the Colombo National Museum — frequently asked
What is Independence Square?
A landscaped square in Cinnamon Gardens with the Independence Memorial Hall, built to mark independence from Britain on 4 February 1948. It is used for walking, jogging and national ceremonies.
When was the Colombo National Museum opened?
January 1877, under Governor Sir William Gregory. It is the country’s main national museum.
What is the highlight of the museum?
The regalia of the Kandyan kings, including the throne of the last King of Kandy, which Britain returned to Sri Lanka.
Can I visit both in one go?
Yes. The museum is a short tuk-tuk ride from the square, and half a day covers both, with a coffee in between.
Also worth stopping for around Colombo
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