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# Where to go and what to read
- URL: https://www.examiner.media/where-to-go-and-what-to-read-10/
- Published: 2025-12-05T07:41:20.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-05T09:46:44.000Z
- Author: The Examiner
- Tags: Week-13-2025, Diary, maintag-Diary

This week’s *Diary* is rightly muted. But Colombo has no less than 26 Christmas Carol events coming up. *Timeout* has the full [list](https://www.timeout.com/sri-lanka/things-to-do/christmas-carols-and-festive-events?ref=examiner.media), so we won’t bother writing them all out. A weeexception for [Polwatte’s carol service](https://www.facebook.com/events/the-church-of-st-michaels-and-all-angels/a-celebration-of-christmas/2100738133793584/). 

On Saturday, [Xmas tree decoration](https://www.instagram.com/p/DRwHQjvAF6H/?ref=examiner.media) for the kids at Dilmah’s tea kade. While Sunday has an [open mic](https://www.instagram.com/p/DRonJMEDO1k/?ref=examiner.media). 

The week proper starts with a [talk](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fba0ea%5F23d911c3ab2948988aa0ca7c9a351ecd~mv2.png?ref=examiner.media) by Zoltan Barany from Texas University on whether countries need armies. Apparently 21 survive without them. Texans, like George Bush, might have something to do with those that aren’t as keen. 

Tuesday brings a Bawa Trust [talk](https://www.instagram.com/p/DRlnVhTDPz7/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) on modern Thai architecture, whose emergence is presumably as marvelously enigmatic as [*pad thai*](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-surprising-history-of-pad-thai-180984625/?ref=examiner.media)*.* There’s also a four day [winter kids camp](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRi52lJjtgz/?ref=examiner.media). 

For the rest of the month, the Symphony Orchestra’s and Soul Sounds’ concerts at [Ladies College](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRkB7Fbj6PM/?igsh=MW9qYnQ3dXJ4cGp1aA%3D%3D&ref=examiner.media) and [Cinnamon Grand](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQMUZeICfPZ/?ref=examiner.media). And the [Work in Sri Lanka](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/workinsl%5Fwe-believe-that-now-more-than-ever-the-activity-7402221156755243009-lbjR?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAEMqXABFhuz-5NijOvl6xsnH0Zkp0-uRAk) for overseas Sri Lankans thinking of returning to the island. 

Amalini de Sayrah’s verified donation [list](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nurUZGpF4hTbGSBw9trINt31nQARItFxhgEiBFW3uW0/edit?tab=t.0&ref=examiner.media). 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/56/2b/562b4f8e-9dd1-43bb-a213-bc1615650661/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-015b651e-b06a-47d6-857a-70bbd1b20bff.png)

From the archive, a [history](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1joanPEQA0dPl3pI8PUDMccBqrFr%5FWRw9a7nNxAzgI38/edit?usp=sharing&ref=examiner.media) of Sinhalese Christmas Carols. 

Three things worth reading on the cyclone: Dilruskhi Handunetti on [cyclone warning systems](https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2025/Nov/30/real-disaster-missed-early-warning-alerts?ref=examiner.media), P. M. Amza on [managing foreign aid](https://www.ft.lk/columns/Relief-with-responsibility-managing-foreign-aid-after-Ditwah-Cyclone/4-785185?fbclid=IwY2xjawOeRfRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe09RJMAbkLIkJdgoAuy66JxBc3KrVnkr6NyjxaLO2QMxcXBG1%5FFn4GL29o2o%5Faem%5FZPaKHY%5FZskmNw2WAXZiVeQ&ref=examiner.media) and CPA on whether the President should have declared [an emergency or a disaster.](https://www.cpalanka.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Statement-on-the-Declaration-of-Emergency-and-Emergency-Regulations-Promulgated-on-the-28.11.2025.pdf?ref=examiner.media) 

A new [book](https://www.arc-humanities.org/9781802703092/religion-gender-and-politics-in-medieval-sri-lanka/?ref=examiner.media) argues that “debates over what it meant to be a ‘good Buddhist king’ were intrinsically debates about Buddhist masculinity” which have been “over-determined by retrospective accounts written by male monastics.”

Mick Moore makes the [case](https://www.ft.lk/opinion/Let-us-tax-for-democracy/14-785068?ref=examiner.media) that a small improvements to our property taxes will be a big win from democracy. 

\*A previous version of diary attributed the CPA statement to CPA's Bhavani Fonseka.