General Tsunami Photo Museum
About This Museum
Down a quiet stretch of the Galle Road, where the Indian Ocean now laps gently at the shore, stands a modest building that tells an immense story. The General Tsunami Photo Museum is a raw, unflinching memorial to the day in 2004 when the sea swallowed this very village. Its walls are lined with photographs that don't just show destruction; they capture the stunned faces of survivors and the terrifying, churning wall of water itself. It’s a somber, deeply personal space that feels more like a community's shared family album of loss than a formal institution.
Collection Highlights
One particularly haunting series documents the 'Train of Death' at Peraliya, where the tsunami wave derailed a passenger train, claiming over a thousand lives just meters from the museum's doorstep. Alongside these devastating images are personal artifacts recovered from the mud and displays mapping the wave's terrifying path across the region.
Visitor Information
You'll find it easily on the main coastal road—look for the name on a simple sign. The atmosphere inside is hushed and reflective, so it's best to plan for a quiet visit.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a simple, single-story structure that feels more like a large community hall than a designed museum, its unassuming presence mirrors the resilience of the local people.
Contact & Location
Address: General Tsunami Photo Museum, Colombo-Galle Road, Akurala, Galle District, Southern Province, 80312, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 77 764 2479
