The Colombo National Museum was established on 1st of January 1877. Its founder was Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon at the time. the Government Architect of the Public Works Department James George Smither(1833-1910) was able to prepare the plans for the new structure in the Italian Architechture style. Initially, the authorities of the Museum took various steps to showcase cultural and natural heritage of the country. Currently, the Museum arrangements have been improved by the historical sequence of the galleries on a thematic basis.