Kattankudy · Eastern Sri Lanka
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Three floors tracing the journey of Arab traders and Muslim settlers who shaped Sri Lanka's east coast.
A short walk from the centre of Kattankudy stands a three-storey museum dedicated to the Muslim and Arab settlers who reached the island centuries ago. Through artefacts, documents, and re-enactments, it tells the story of how traders from Africa and the Middle East made their home in Sri Lanka, then known as Serendib.
At a glance
Relics dating to the earliest arrival of Arab traders and settlers on the island.
A purpose-built complex with room after room of carefully curated exhibits.
Household items, ceramics, and trading goods that reveal everyday life of old.
A rewarding stop for students, researchers, and curious travellers alike.
Opened in 2015, the museum was created to preserve the heritage of Sri Lanka's Muslim community in one place. Rare documents and artefacts were gathered island-wide, then carefully documented and authenticated.
The result is a living record of a people whose roots reach back many generations.
Inside, exhibits trace the arrival of Arab traders and settlers to the island they called Serendib. Displays move from olden household items and ceramics to the goods that crossed oceans through early trade.
Re-enactments of cultural events bring those distant days vividly to life.
The museum sits within a town whose streets, lined with date palms, can feel reminiscent of the Middle East. Set aside enough time, the three floors hold far more than a quick glance can take in.
It is a place to slow down, read, and absorb a heritage that quietly shaped the region.
Gallery
Plan your visit
Kattankudy, near Batticaloa, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka.
History lovers, students, researchers, and cultural travellers.
Around 60 to 90 minutes to take in all three floors.
The exhibits reward a slow visit, so allow more time than you expect.
Get directions to this location on Google Maps.
