"RECAP I had to be on an official visit to Colombo during the early 1990s when Sri Lanka was in the grip of a civil war. On my first day in Colombo, two cops appeared outside my hotel room. They questioned me and searched my passport. One of the cops gave me a puzzled look and whispered to his colleague. Within seconds, he asked me, "Is this how you arrived from the airport?" My First Day in Colombo....CHAPTER 3 Within seconds, Cop 2 asked me, "Is this how you arrived at the airport?" I was perplexed and nervous, and before I could say anything, the two cops began to laugh. Cop 1 remarked, "Mr. Krishnan, you have put your Banian (vest) outside your T-shirt. Did you arrive from the airport in this manner? Cop 2 handed my passport over to me. It felt like a weight off my shoulders, and I couldn't stop laughing as I looked at myself wearing my white Banian over a dark blue T-shirt. The hotel staff, too, burst into laughter; perhaps they wanted to say, "Your comedy of errors has made the cops smile and eased the situation!" Looking at the cops, I clarified, "I just had a bath and was about to dress when you knocked. It all happened in a hurry." "Now, go back and dress properly before leaving the hotel," advised Cop 2. "Have a good evening and a pleasant stay in Colombo," Cop 1 wished before leaving. With a deep sense of relief, I glanced at a hotel staff member who had remained with me. Looking at those cops, he clarified my doubts: "They were Sinhalese Sri Lankan cops, who always conduct a routine check when new guests check in due to the ongoing civil war." Luckily, you were a Keralite, providing a respite from too many questions. If you were from Tamil Nadu, the situation would be different, and I assume the questioning would continue because of the ongoing LTTE (Tamil Rebel Group) civil war. That evening, I had a pleasant walk on the beach. Since then, I have spoken and heard only English, Hindi, and Malayalam in Sri Lanka !!! The End ©Krishnan "