A land owned by Sri Arumugam Navalar was gifted to the Department of Archaeolgy by Arumuga Navalar Foundation in 1975 and in 1978, the museum building was constructed on the land under the supervision of Dr. Roland Silva, the then Commissioner of Archaeology. A large portion of space in the building has been used for exhibition stalls. The Regional Museum of Jaffna has been arranged to cover the area of Jaffna. Antiquities with archaeological heritage and historical value are 
exhibited in the museum. An excellent collection of items received from various places and donated by various persons in Jaffna centred Northern Province are kept in the museum. This collection of items which illustrate Buddhist and Hindu religious heritage includes items of metal, wood and stone. In addition to them, a large number of coins (of different periods and forms) is also available in the museum.
