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Walk into an era of glory
By Mahangu Weerasinghe
The longest ruling capital on earth, the tallest brick structure in the world, and the oldest existing man-made reservoir - these are but a few of the features attributed to the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura. Often called the 'Golden Age' of our history, the Anuradhapura kingdom spanned a glorious 13 centuries, forging much of Sri Lanka's ancient identity.

And now, thanks to the untiring work of a few inspired people, visitors to the Colombo National Museum will be able to experience this kingdom in all its former glory. Last year, the Department of National Museums, in partnership with HSBC, set in motion a refurbishment plan for the Anuradhapura Gallery of the Colombo National Museum. This week, after six months of delicate work, the gallery was finally declared open.

The revamp of the gallery is most significant as it is the first overhaul since 1980. Frequent visitors will notice a huge change in the ease of navigation among the exhibits, with new users immediately marvelling at the quality of presentation.

In the first section of the gallery, topics such as Agriculture and Irrigation, Trade, Buddhism, Hinduism, Language and Literature, Arts and Crafts, Sculpture and Architecture, are all brought out using expertly illustrated diagrams.

Murals adorn the walls of the second part of the gallery, which houses many statues from the Anuradhapura era. The lighting used in this part of the gallery is magnificent, revealing every facial nuance, every patiently crafted expression of the masterpieces of old. The trilingual information panels and carefully arranged artefacts ensure that the visitor is guided easily through a stunning cross section of the ancient kingdom.

The project owes much of its success to the archaeological expertise of Professor Leelananda Prematilleke, Chief Advisor and Planner of the project. Dr. Nanda Wickremasinghe, Director, Department of National Museums was also heavily involved in the effort.

Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, Vijitha Herath, speaking at the opening of the gallery said that HSBC in partnership with the Department of National Museums had forged a new way for people to look at history. "These new galleries will redefine the way the public looks at history and heritage," said the Minister. "Using modern technology, HSBC has managed to bring out the wonders of our technology of old," he said.

From trade, to architecture, to religion and painting, the newly refurbished Anuradhapura gallery of the Colombo National Museum has something to offer everyone. You really don't need to be a history buff to fully enjoy the experience. You just need to love Sri Lanka, and be proud of its heritage. So, sometime this week, when your schedule grants you leave, why not take a short walk through the glory days of Sri Lanka? It may just redefine the way you look at your country.

As the CEO of HSBC, Mark Humble, so aptly put it, "In rebuilding after last month's tsunami, we must not forget that it is our past that has made us who we are today."

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