The first ever fisheries museum set up in Hambantota is no more. It was inaugurated close to the historic Martello tower. It is also now in a dilapidated state.

The British rulers in Hambantota set up the Tower in 1796 for security reasons, modelling on the architectural design of the Martello tower in Northern Corsica. The fisheries museum was set up by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was the Minister of Fisheries and aquatic resources.