CHDM’s museum work focuses on using the museum as an inclusive space, a discourse, a method and a practice to critically reflect on the past and promote multiple narrative approaches to Sri Lankan history. While it will serve as a cross cutting pillar to absorb other areas of work at CHDM, it will proactively engage with communities, museologists, and other practitioners to foster a community of practice with a longer term goal of furthering the concept of museums and museum practice in Sri Lanka.
Further, looking more narrowly at the museum landscape in Sri Lanka, the Museum Baseline Survey conducted by the Historical Dialogue and Memory Culture Unit in 2018 found that there are more than 120 museums, both state-owned and private in the country. However, they are not seen as spaces for reflection by a majority of the visitors while the pedagogy is often problematic as it tries to promote one dominant narrative overlooking plurality and a multiple perspective approach to history. Generally, museums and exhibitions are seen as passive and static spaces, and not as dynamic ones that could offer a more holistic and multi-sensory experience that could complement knowledge and experiences. Moreover, a majority of museums in Sri Lanka glorify a bygone era while overwhelming the visitor with a plethora of artefacts locked up in cabinets rather than focusing on reflective curation. There are only a handful of museums that address socio-cultural issues while engaging the visitor in an interactive experience.
Project Lead: Anisha Dias Bandaranaike
Contact mcrplead@chdmlka.org for more information.
IAT first began to travel the country in 2019 and has since been visited by 50,000 people in 11 towns, 10 districts, and 7 provinces of the country. Recently, it was re-conceptualised and piloted in Colombo from August 19 – 23, 2025 at the Public Library and was experienced by more than 2500 visitors. This version focuses on Sri Lanka’s post-independence history and is primarily designed for children and youth, inviting them to explore and question the recent past in order to contribute towards a future that prioritises social cohesion and peace. The new design is easier to travel with, can be adapted to include new elements, and is quicker to set up — so that more communities can experience it across the country. The production and implementation of the exhibition has been supported by the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) programme co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office.
This exhibition aims to uncover, preserve, and share the overlooked histories of the Malaiyaga Tamil community in Sri Lanka. This community has played a vital role in the country’s tea industry but has faced decades of marginalization. Our interactive exhibition aims to highlight their resilience, contributions, and struggles, challenging the historical erasure they have experienced. Since its launch in 2023, “Rooted” has been successfully showcased in key locations including Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, and Matara. The interactive exhibition has engaged diverse audiences through an innovative combination of archival materials, visual art, multimedia elements, and oral histories. CHDM hopes to expand this initiative by bringing the “Rooted” exhibition to plantation schools across the island.
