General Tsunami Photo Museum

I rarely leave reviews, but my experience at the General Tsunami Photo Museum was by far the worst I’ve ever had. I visited about 3 months ago, and I want to strongly warn others before they waste their time and money here. The so-called “owner” is manipulative and completely untrustworthy. He can barely explain anything about the tsunami, yet pretends to be some kind of survivor collecting donations “for the village children.” During my visit, he even put on a fake crying act while pointing at an old cloth on the wall, claiming it was all he had left after the tsunami. The whole thing felt staged and dishonest. The pressure to donate was aggressive and nonstop. He kept pushing me to put money in his box, but I later found out the truth from locals: this place is nothing but a scam. Tuk-Tuk drivers confirmed that he pays them small commissions to bring tourists in, but he cheats them too—lying about how much visitors actually donate and pocketing almost everything for himself. Multiple drivers openly complained about him. Worse still, I was told he even had a case where he harassed a foreign woman, and it only ended after he begged for forgiveness at the police station. That says everything you need to know about his character. This museum gives you no real information about the tsunami, no genuine history, and absolutely no respect for the tragedy or the victims. It exists only to squeeze money from tourists under false pretenses. ⚠ Warning to all travelers and expats: Do not waste your time or money here. This place is a massive scam, exploiting both visitors and the community. If you truly want to support locals, donate directly to reputable charities—not this fraudulent museum.

Visiting the Tsunami Museum in Sri Lanka was a very moving experience. Lal, who guided us through the museum is a survivor of the 2004 tsunami, and he shared his story with such honesty and kindness. He welcomed us warmly, and although his memories are painful, he spoke with incredible strength. I highly recommend taking the time to visit!

A must visit place in Peraliya near Hikkaduwa to stop for a moment and rethink about life. They explain in detail about how tsunamis occur, what happened on 26th December 2004 and how they overcame or are still overcoming it. Wish them all the very best.

Today, we visited the Tsunami Museum in Hikkaduwa, and it was an incredibly powerful and moving experience. The museum is run by a remarkable individual who has dedicated significant efforts to supporting children and families affected by the tsunami. The footage shown was deeply emotional, and the information he shared was both compelling and informative. Overall, the visit was impactful and thought-provoking. We highly recommend taking the time to visit—it offers valuable insight into the tragic events and the ongoing recovery efforts. We have immense respect for the dedication and compassion of the individual behind the museum.

This was very interesting but distressing at same time. Knowledge staff, I learned a lot. It also brings home how devastating it really was. Some photos are very harrowing. Seeing it on tv then here are 2 very different realities. I was upset as were others. Please go, even if you don't want to see the distressing part.

Very nice little Museum with a lot of informative as well as graphic pictures. The owner is very nice and explains what happened in 2004. Can very much recommend if you are in the area. It will take around one hour and only costs a voluntary donation :)

Brilliant experience. Very emotional. Lal running the museum is extremely kind and passionate about his experiences. Pictures and videos you see are very informative and emotional

My girlfriend and I visited this museum, and it really showed us the impact of the tsunami on the people and the owners as well. He has a great soul and is very kind and is helping kids in need with the donations. I highly recommend you contribute if you can!