The Colombo Museum as it was called at the beginning was
established on 1st January 1877. It founder was Sir William
Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
at the time. The Royal Asiatic Society (CB) was instrumental
in bringing to the notice of Gregory on his appointment as
Governor in 1872 the need for a public museum with much
difficulty the approval of the legislative council was obtained
within a year. The Architect of the Public Works Department,
J.G. Smither was able to prepare the plans for new structure
on Italian architectural style. The construction was completed
in 1876 and the Museum commenced it functions in the
following year.