The ‘It’s About Time’ Travelling History Museum opened its doors to the public at the Colombo Public Library on 19th August 2025. Since its inception in February 2019, the museum has visited 11 towns across 10 districts and 7 provinces, including Jaffna, Kandy, Kurunegala, Badulla, Batticaloa, Mannar, and Galle. Drawing on feedback from more than 52,000 visitors, it has been reconceptualised for a renewed visitor experience. The updated iteration will be open to the public for the first time in Colombo from 19 to 23 August, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
“It’s About Time” aims to deepen understanding of Sri Lanka’s post-independence history by encouraging reflection and dialogue. Rather than focusing on a traditional history-book approach, the museum uses interactive and multimedia exhibits to engage visitors with the stories of everyday people. It offers a space to explore multiple historical perspectives, reconnect with a shared heritage, and consider how citizens can shape the future of Sri Lanka.
The era from the 1940s to the 2000s are depicted in a manner that allows visitors to understand the history of Sri Lanka and the important events that shaped society to what it is today, starting from the Swabasha movement to the economic crisis of 2022.
The official opening of the museum brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, media, and the diplomatic community. Distinguished guests included Hon. Muneer Mulaffer, Deputy Minister of National Integration; H.E. Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives; Ms. Sarah Hasselbarth, Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives; and Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, Mayor of Colombo.
“This travelling museum connects us to the real stories and lived experiences of Sri Lankans, giving us a chance to understand different perspectives. It offers a meaningful space to reflect on how we can build a shared future together,” highlighted the H.E. Carmen Moreno.
Emphasising the European Union’s and Germany’s shared commitment to promoting innovative approaches in Sri Lanka for social cohesion, Ms. Sarah Hasselbarth noted that “this museum invites visitors to engage – through interactive exhibits, asking questions, and reflecting on different perspectives. It opens a space where people can challenge their own assumptions and learn about the experiences of others. In doing so, it transforms history from something distant and static into something living, relevant, and shared.”
The new iteration of the ‘It’s About Time’ Traveling History Museum is implemented by the Collective for Historical Dialogue & Memory (CHDM); previous museums were implemented in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG). The museum is supported by the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) program, which is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office and is implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka.
BY NELUM BUDDHADASA