Colombo indoor activities for a rainy monsoon day not just shopping malls

A solid rainy-day Colombo itinerary. Morning: Colombo National Museum (start here, 1800s building, sword and throne of the last king of Kandy, excellent ola-leaf manuscript collection, allow 2 hours). Late morning: Gangaramaya Temple and the Sima Malaka pavilion on Beira Lake, partially covered, rain-friendly. Lunch: Ministry of Crab in the Dutch Hospital (heritage building, no wet shoes problem), or Upali by Nawaloka for a proper rice and curry. Afternoon: Independence Memorial Hall plus the underground Independence Arcade (galleries and cafes under cover), then Barefoot Cafe and gallery for handlooms and the live jazz often playing in the courtyard on weekend afternoons. Evening: a half-day Sri Lankan cooking class (several operators in Colombo run 3-4 hour indoor classes) or a Ceylon tea-tasting session at a specialty tea boutique. Skip the open-air walks; Pettah, Galle Face Green and the rampart promenades are no fun in heavy rain.